December 2024 Newsletter

December 26, 2024

News you can use

Ingestible Drug Delivery System - Cephalopod Inspired

Researchers from MIT and Novo Nordisk have created an ingestible capsule that mimics the squid's ability to propel itself and release ink. The capsule is designed to release a concentrated burst of drugs directly into the stomach lining or other parts of the gastrointestinal tract.

This capsule provides a new, needle-free method for delivering drugs that are typically injected, such as insulin and other large protein-based medicines like antibodies. It can also be used to deliver RNA-based treatments, including vaccines and therapies for conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and other metabolic disorders.

The research was funded by Novo Nordisk, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health.

More Information

Employee spotlight

Tera Lavoie - Senior Scientist II – Electron Microscopy

Dr. Tera Lavoie is the Assistant Facility Director of the Advanced Electron Microscopy Core at the University of Chicago, where she has worked since 2017. With over 18 years of expertise, she specializes in a wide range of electron microscopy techniques, including cryo-TEM, correlative microscopy, and large-volume imaging.

Tera earned a Master’s degree in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins and a PhD in Molecular Pathogenesis from the University of Chicago, where she researched asthma treatments in Dr. Julian Solway’s lab. She previously led the Loyola Core Microscopy Facility.

Passionate about training researchers and advancing multidisciplinary science, Tera also enjoys live baseball, concerts, and Broadway shows.

Featured services

cryo-EM - Helix BioStructures is a leading provider of cryo-EM services. In cases where x-ray crystallography is unsuitable for structural characterization, including certain protein complexes, viruses, antibodies, membrane proteins, and ion channels, Helix offers flexible access to cryo-electron microscopy expertise and services using a milestone-based or by-the-sample approach.

Equipped with three Krios and three Glacios microscopes, we produce high-quality cryo-EM data at industrial speed and at affordable rates. Importantly, we can purify the protein and go directly to grids without freezing and thawing the protein. This leads to high-quality particles and increased success for our clients.

Learn more

Helix is hiring!!

Senior Scientist - Gene-to-Structure: We are looking to add an experienced senior scientist to join our Indianapolis-based team. This senior-level scientist will support our protein production and structural biology pipelines by producing proteins and setting up crystallization and/or cryo-EM experiments, interfacing with our clients, and writing technical project reports.

Apply Here

HELIX HIGHLIGHTS

Helix Biostructures During the Holidays
As the year draws to a close, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for your trust and partnership. Your support has been instrumental to our success, and we’re honored to work with you.

May your holidays be filled with warmth, happiness, and time spent with loved ones. Here’s to a prosperous and inspiring New Year—we look forward to continuing our journey together in 2025!

Instrument review

Refeyn TwoMP
Mass photometry is transforming how we analyze molecules, offering a groundbreaking way to measure the absolute mass of particles in solution with incredible precision. This powerful technique goes beyond just identifying particles—it also provides insights into the ratio of different molecular species, including their oligomeric states, all in their native environment.

Curious about how mass photometry could enhance your research? Refeyn's free ebook dives into the fundamentals of the method, its cutting-edge applications, and how it’s driving advancements across various scientific fields. Download it now to explore how this revolutionary tool can support your work!