Feed aggregator
Adam and Hirsa Present Research on the Ring-Sheared Drop
3 min read
Adam and Hirsa Present Research on the Ring-Sheared Drop Abnormal fibrous, extracellular, proteinaceous deposits found in organs and tissues are associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. (“Amyloid fibril formation in microgravity: Distinguishing interfacial and flow effects” NNX13AQ22G). The Ring Sheared Drop investigation studies the biophysics of protein amyloidogenesis in the absence of gravity in order to study fibril formation at fluid interfaces, in the absence of solid walls. NASA
Researchers across Space Biology and Physical Sciences come together for a special presentation at the May PSI Users Group.
The Ring-Sheared Drop (RSD) is a Microgravity Science Glovebox experiment that launched in July 2019 to the ISS to study shearing flow in the absence of solid walls. The major goals of this project were to adapt and use the RSD module to develop and test predictive models of non-Newtonian flow of high-concentration proteins at the interface.
At the May Physical Sciences Informatics (PSI) User Group, Dr. Joe Adam, Research Scientist at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and University Payload Director of the RSD module, presented, “Protein Solution Hydrodynamic Studies in the Ring-Sheared Drop” detailing the history of RSD, research campaigns and data to be released in PSI. This investigation was led by Principal Investigator, Prof. Amir Hirsa of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
The ring-sheared drop interfacial bioprocessing of pharmaceuticals-I (RSD-IBP-I) campaign aimed to study non-Newtonian interfacial hydrodynamics of the blood transport proteins bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human serum albumin (HSA) in microgravity. Specifically, scientific aims focus on the effects of protein primary structure (BSA or HSA), protein concentration and interfacial shear rate on microgravity fluid flow, measured using velocimetry of hollow glass microsphere tracer particles within protein samples. This campaign intended to confer improved understanding of interfacial protein flows in relation to physiology, the environment, and industry relevant to both spaceflight and Earth. Results from this line of research could have applications to in situ pharmaceutical production, tissue engineering, and diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, infectious prions, and type 2 diabetes.
To encourage collaboration across common areas of BPS’s Physical Sciences and Biology research, PSI invited Ryan Scott, ALSDA lead Scientist, and members of the ADBR (Alz Disease & Brain Resilience) and Parkinson’s AWG subgroups to attendee this month’s meeting which fueled discussions and led to several connections. During the discussions the two relevant collaborative publications that were shared are:
- McMackin, P., Adam, J., Griffin, S. et al. Amyloidogenesis via interfacial shear in a containerless biochemical reactor aboard the International Space Station. npj Microgravity 8, 41 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-022-00227-2
- Nilufar Ali paper resulting in part from a collaboration within the Parkison’s AWG subgroup
Ali, N., Beheshti, A. & Hampikian, G. Space exploration and risk of Parkinson’s disease: a perspective review. npj Microgravity 11, 1 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-024-00457-6
Ring-Sheared Drop – Interfacial Bioprocessing of Pharmaceuticals(RSD-IBP-I) is now accessible in PSI. http://doi.org/10.60555/smat-bb74
Share Details Last Updated Jul 29, 2025 Related Terms Explore More 1 min read 2025 NASA Space Apps ChallengeArticle
1 day ago
2 min read OSDR Chats with Begum Mathyk
Article
1 day ago
4 min read Helio Highlights: June 2025
Article
2 weeks ago
Keep Exploring Discover Related Topics
Missions
Humans in Space
Climate Change
Solar System
Hurricane Forecasters Keep Access to Threatened Defense Department Satellite Data
Microwave satellite data that are key to capturing changes in a hurricane’s strength will not be taken from meteorologists as originally planned
Trump’s EPA Targets ‘Endangerment Finding’ Underlying Climate Change Policy for Reducing Carbon
The Trump administration is releasing its proposal to undo the “endangerment finding,” the long-standing rationale and legal imperative for regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act
Tomb of Ancient Maya City’s First Ruler Has Been Uncovered by Archaeologists
A team of archaeologists excavating the ancient Maya city of Caracol discovered the tomb of its first ruler, which contained pottery, jadeite jewelry and a rare death mask
VV27 road to liftoff
Highlights and liftoff of Vega-C flight VV27 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, at 23:03 local time on 25 July (03:03 BST/04:03 CEST on 26 July).
Flight VV27 was operated by Arianespace and launched Airbus’s four CO3D satellites and the French space agency CNES MicroCarb mission.
The four small satellites in the CO3D constellation (an abbreviation of the French 'Constellation Optique en 3D') are set to map the globe in three dimensions from low Earth orbit, to serve public and private sector needs.
MicroCarb is designed to map sources and sinks of carbon dioxide on a global scale. ESA coordinated and procured the launch of MicroCarb on behalf of the European Commission, as part of its In-Orbit Demonstration / In-Orbit Validation (IOD/IOV) programme.