Description: The goal of this project is the demonstration, initial testing, and determination of design parameters for the Ring Sheared Drop (RSD), intended for the Light Microscopy Module (LMM) aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The technology is currently under development at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is a novel project that will study interfacial effects of complex fluids without container walls and buoyancy driven convection. The motivation for the RSD is the study of interfacial effects on the formation of amyloid fibrils in protein solutions (“Amyloid fibril formation in microgravity: Distinguishing interfacial and flow effects” NNX13AQ22G). Amyloid fibrils are widely studied due to their importance in a number of neuro-degenarative diseases including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. The fibrillization process has additional interest for space exploration as models have demonstrated that exposure to cosmic radiation may accelerate fibril formation. Furthermore, the distinctive structure of the fibrils is resilient and simultaneously pliable with potential anthropogenic utility. Work continues under T0183.

Paper: Ring-Sheared Drop (RSD): Microgravity Module for Containerless Flow Studies

Benefits: This technology enables the use of ISS as a micro-gravity lab to help study the interfacial effects on formation of amyloid fibrils in protein solutions. Amyloid fibrils are widely studied due to their importance in a number of neuro-degenarative diseases including Alzheimer's and Parkinson' disease.