LAbinorb
Areas of Study
Some of the key areas for experimentation in space with the breakthroughs
Pharmaceutical Experiments
Microgravity enables the development of more effective and stable drugs by improving the understanding of crystal growth, dissolution, and molecular interactions.
In Earth’s gravity, drug crystals often form with structural imperfections, limiting their stability and solubility. In microgravity, these imperfections are greatly reduced, allowing researchers to grow larger, more uniform crystals with higher purity. This advancement can lead to more effective drug delivery, better shelf life, and novel drug formulations.
Pharmaceutical companies such as Merck have conducted protein crystallization experiments aboard the ISS, revealing improved crystal quality for cancer treatment research (e.g., Keytruda’s active ingredients). By conducting similar experiments aboard our reusable satellite platform, biotech firms can accelerate drug discovery, reduce development costs, and gain a competitive edge in precision medicine.
Cell Biology Experiments
Microgravity offers a unique environment to study cell behavior, gene expression, and tissue development, opening new frontiers in regenerative medicine and disease modeling.
In space, cells are free from the mechanical cues and sedimentation that affect their growth on Earth. This allows scientists to observe changes in morphology, signaling pathways, and gene expression in unprecedented ways. Research has shown that cells in microgravity often grow in three dimensions, better mimicking how tissues behave inside the human body.
NASA’s Tissue Chips in Space program, for example, uses microphysiological systems to model human organs and disease responses in microgravity. Such platforms enable pharmaceutical and healthcare companies to perform faster, more ethical, and cost-effective preclinical testing of drugs and therapies.
Material Science Experiments
Space-based materials research unlocks advanced manufacturing possibilities by eliminating gravity-driven defects, resulting in stronger, lighter, and more resilient materials.
On Earth, gravity causes convection, sedimentation, and phase separation during materials processing, which leads to imperfections in alloys, semiconductors, and glass. Microgravity minimizes these effects, allowing for the development of purer and more homogenous materials. This has significant implications for aerospace, electronics, energy storage, and additive manufacturing industries.
For instance, experiments conducted on the International Space Station have produced fiber-optic materials like ZBLAN with far lower attenuation than Earth-made counterparts, potentially revolutionizing high-speed communications. Similarly, microgravity allows for the study of metal solidification and phase transitions, critical for designing high-performance structural materials.