Manufacturing Procedure Research Articles

Architectural approach for evaluation of radiation shielding integration in space habitats

NASA HRP considers developing radiation protection for human space flight and surface habitation as one of the critical technologies for successful deep space exploration. Although the danger of radiation exposure is recognized as a potential show-stopper for deep space exploration, and radiation effects on humans are now understood better than before, shielding strategies for different stages of space flight and habitation are still not addressed in a fully comprehensive manner. Habitats and all space structures planning and design are guided by essential requirements and constraints associated with safety, manufacturing and assembly procedures, propellant and construction costs, maintenance, crew and/or passenger satisfaction. This paper reviews radiation shielding options for space habitats and discusses their feasibility in relation to habitability needs, including the potential for outside viewing in distinct types of space habitats. Typically, radiation protection depends on the thickness of the exterior structure that consists of a pressurized shell, multilayer insulation (MLI) and any applied radiation shielding material. The mass of the external protection shell is the primary factor of radiation shielding effectiveness. Nevertheless, using materials with low atomic numbers (e.g., Boron (5), Carbon (6), and H2O) helps to lower secondary radiation hazards. Water, which is rich in hydrogen and has the lowest atomic number, can also be used for other mission needs. Other materials, including biomaterials, can be considered when their inclusion in the structure is possible and appropriate. The paper presents a comprehensive strategy for radiation shielding selection that includes investigation of complications associated with a type of space habitat structure, mission needs, duration, destination, and crew requirements. The approach presented in the paper aims to establish an evaluation methodology for defining the feasibility of the integration of diverse radiation shielding types into habitat structures. The paper summarizes by reviewing radiation shielding proposals with selected case studies including water, regolith, hydrogen-rich polymers, biotechnology, polyethylene/boron nitride composites, and active strategies.

Splay aligned liquid crystal network photoactuators for integrated microfluidic pumps

As lab-on-a-chip devices aim to incorporate complex and multi-step microfluidic workflows, active fluid control within these platforms is critical. We use a splay aligned liquid crystal network (LCN) photoactuator, capable of deformation upon blue light illumination, as a stimuli responsive material to create integrated fluidic elements. After optimization of the manufacturing parameters, a well-defined actuator material is attained. Illumination with a 455 nm light emitting diode (LED) at 41 mW cm−2 achieves deflection of a 3 × 8 × 0.05 mm LCN film by 380 µm, generating forces of 1.1 mN. The actuator response is stable over time and scalable by light intensity, temperature, and size of the LCN film. By combining with a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane, integration into a microfluidic chip is demonstrated and fluid movement of 77 nL in a 2 s stroke is attained. In a pumping setup, the LCN film functions as pumping membrane and two passive PDMS check valves complete the integrated micropump. Constant pumping rates of 0.1 µL min−1 are achieved. An advantage of this micropump setup lies in the non-contact actuation method, which allows for easy integration into microfluidic chips, without the need for chip-to-world connections. Furthermore, with the simple manufacturing procedure and the low operating power, important requirements for application in point-of-care settings are fulfilled.

Computer Aided Process Planning for Sheet Metal Cutting Operations in the Manufacturing Industry

This paper describes computer-aided process planning for sheet metal cutting operations. The two designs to production stages that is highlighted are sheet metal processing and machining. There are four modules in this object's system. Virtual factory environments, feature-based designs, process planning, and process-based feature mapping. Feature-based design is utilized for the conception, modeling, and representation of the components for manufacturing applications. Whenever it involves sheet metal cutting operations in the manufacturing sector, computer-aided process planning, is extremely important for streamlining manufacturing procedures. The provides a general introduction to computer-aided process planning as it relates to sheet metal cutting, emphasizing its importance in boosting productivity, saving costs, and raising product quality. The main goal of computer-aided process planning for sheet metal cutting is to integrate computer technology, CAD/CAM systems, and sophisticated algorithms to automate and streamline the planning process. Based on design requirements, material characteristics, and production limitations, this method enables manufacturers to produce exact and ideal cutting plans. To create blanking and piercing holes, stamped or punched die are utilized in generative shape design; the generative computer-aided process planning system is created in C++ and used in various case studies presented in the present work. The application of computer-aided process planning for sheet metal cutting has several advantages, including greater output, less material waste, shortened lead times, and improved competitiveness in the industrial sector. The potential of computer-aided process planning to revolutionize sheet metal cutting operations, making them more efficient and cost-effective while ensuring high-quality final products is highlighted in the present research.

Mobile handling units in advanced material handling systems

To fulfil the increasing requirements of the social and economic environments, the equipment used in material handling processes have to be developed. The machines fitted exactly to certain manufacturing procedures some decades ago, cannot be found in the advanced version, they role are acted by other, earlier rarely used computer-controlled devices. The traditional method for the material handling is the using of mobile handling units, where the goods are moving on the machines, so the characteristics of the transportation are based on the parameters of the handling equipment. Suited to the new requirements, the structure and operation of the mobile handling units are changing but their application have similar conditions. There are many handling machines belonging to this category, this paper gives an overview about their most popular variations and their usability in advanced material handling systems.

Application of polymer concrete containing industrial bottom ashes in footing plates for energy poles

The paper presents a procedure of preparing, molding and testing polymer concrete containing 10 – 60% of bottom ash from power plant fluid circulating fluidized bed boiler (CFB)– the rest of the filler was a standard sand. The tests of static bending and mass changes after exposition to acid, base and salt were conducted. Also mass changes after freeze-thaw tests were registered. The tested polymer concretes showed no problems during manufacturing procedures. Compositions containing 10 - 20% by weight of the ash showed higher flexural strength than polymer concrete containing 100% sand and it was about 35 MPa. Relatively small changes in mass (less than 0.5% excluding base exposition for which it was less than 3%) caused by environmental factors, in general consistent with theoretical predictions, allow us to assume that the tested materials will meet the strength requirements for the footplates. It is studied in second part of the set. According to the environmental resistance and description of a whole designing and production process. It was found that the concrete containing 10%wt of the ash is optimal material for producing the plates. It has showed the best resistance to environmental aging from all tested concretes. The designed mold system is simple and reliable - it is applicable for serial production of the plates in industrial conditions. Visual quality of the produced plates was very good. In general, polymer concrete once again turned out to be very good material, applicable in various elements for construction industry.

Digital Fabrication for Circular Timber Construction: A Case Study

The European timber industry has successfully implemented the cascading utilization of wood for several decades, downcycling material resources at the end of each product cycle by turning them into new industrial commodities through additional manufacturing procedures. In its current implementation, this approach is effective in keeping wooden materials in circulation. However, a significant amount of material still reaches the end-of-life stage through incineration prematurely, constituting a considerable waste of valuable resources. Therefore, we propose repurposing low-quality, low-engineered waste wood for architectural applications to avoid unnecessary downcycling processes. Specifically, we suggest a digital design and fabrication method to build tectonic structures using repurposed timber offcuts. As a case study, we present a pavilion structure built at a 1:1 scale, demonstrating the potential of digital technologies for circular timber construction. Based on this case study, we discuss how digital fabrication and material grading can foster a transition towards a circular built environment.

In-situ lignin regeneration facilitated corn straw-based photothermal evaporator with high cost-effectiveness

Solar evaporators are one of the most efficient and sustainable water purification strategies, but it requires the use of expensive photothermal materials. Herein, the surface of waste corn straw was modified with condensed lignin by means of in-situ lignin regeneration. The resulting material was composited with hydrophilic chitosan and then applied as a sustainable and cost-effective photothermal material to construct a solar evaporator. The non-radiative transport was conferred by π-π stacking between conjugated aromatic rings of lignin, allowing the composites to demonstrate promising photothermal conversion ability. The composites presented a max evaporation rate of ∼1.44 kg m−2 h−1 under 1 sun, plus they consistently produced clean water in aqueous organic dye solutions (100 ppm RhB dye and 100 ppm MB dye) and seawater. Due to the ultra-low cost of raw materials and uncomplicated manufacturing procedure, these composites displayed a cost-effectiveness of ∼475 g h−1 $−1. Thus, this work provides a green and sustainable method for converting agricultural waste into functional photothermal evaporators, which is meaningful for both materials and environmental science.

Development of quantum machine learning to evaluate the corrosion inhibition capability of pyrimidine compounds

This investigation employs a quantum neural network (QNN) synergistically integrated with a quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) model for the comprehensive evaluation of corrosion inhibition efficiency (CIE) in pyrimidine compounds. The QNN, exhibiting superior performance over conventional methodologies, attains commendable predictive precision, as evidenced by metrics: R2 = 0.981, RMSE = 0.53, MAE = 0.43, and MAD = 0.42. The prognosticated CIE values for the synthesized derivatives (P1, P2, P3) are 91.17, 98.69, and 99.21, respectively. This pioneering approach holds promise for a transformative impact on both the manufacturing and evaluation procedures associated with novel anti-corrosion materials.

In-situ surface growth strategy to synthesize MXene@graphdiyne heterostructure for achieving high capacity and desirable stability in lithium-ion batteries

Two-dimensional (2D) heterostructured electrodes, combining graphdiyne (GDY) and MXenes, have exhibited substantial promise in augmenting the mobility of both ionic and electron movement. However, the widespread advancement and industrial utilization have been impeded by intricate manufacturing procedures and insufficient stability. This study introduces a more streamlined, in-situ growth approach for preparing MXene@GDY electrodes, presenting a novel heterostructure. The method simplifies the manufacturing process while enhancing the specific capacity of the electrode and the more stable cycle life of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The resulting electrode exhibited an impressive initial specific capacity of 464.4 mA h g−1, maintaining a high capacity of 492.9 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles at 100 mA current density. More importantly, after 1200 cycles, MXene@GDY showed a capacity of 340.7 mA h g−1, significantly outperforming pure MXene, which only reached 122.3 mA h g−1 at a current density of 1.0 A g−1. The proposed in-situ construction of heterojunction on the MXene surface has demonstrated immense potential for designing high-performance electrode materials which are applicable to LIBs.

Coupled Oxygen-Enriched Combustion in Cement Industry CO2 Capture System: Process Modeling and Exergy Analysis

The cement industry is regarded as one of the primary producers of world carbon emissions; hence, lowering its carbon emissions is vital for fostering the development of a low-carbon economy. Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies play significant roles in sectors dominated by fossil energy. This study aimed to address issues such as high exhaust gas volume, low CO2 concentration, high pollutant content, and difficulty in carbon capture during cement production by combining traditional cement production processes with cryogenic air separation technology and CO2 purification and compression technology. Aspen Plus® was used to create the production model in its entirety, and a sensitivity analysis was conducted on pertinent production parameters. The findings demonstrate that linking the oxygen-enriched combustion process with the cement manufacturing process may decrease the exhaust gas flow by 54.62%, raise the CO2 mass fraction to 94.83%, cut coal usage by 30%, and considerably enhance energy utilization efficiency. An exergy analysis showed that the exergy efficiency of the complete kiln system was risen by 17.56% compared to typical manufacturing procedures. However, the cryogenic air separation system had a relatively low exergy efficiency in the subsidiary subsystems, while the clinker cooling system and flue gas circulation system suffered significant exergy efficiency losses. The rotary kiln system, which is the main source of the exergy losses, also had low exergy efficiency in the traditional production process.

Progress in the Application of Peptide Vaccines in the COVID-19

A brand-new coronavirus dubbed COVID-19 epidemic broke out in the winter of 2019 and quickly swept the globe. Additionally, the pandemic's high mortality rate and high infection have prompted sustained scientific efforts to treat the illness. Backing the history of the virus, vaccine development is the most effective method to mitigate this urgent public issue. Pharmaceutical firms from nations including China, the United States, and Russia subsequently started doing research on vaccine development. While Pfizer and Monard in the US utilize mRNA genetic vaccines, China uses inactivated vaccines and viral vector vaccines. As a result of the difficult inactivated vaccine manufacture procedure and the issue of toxicity rebound, there is also a chance that genetic vaccines will mate with host genes. It is thought that the creation of peptide vaccines will deal with these two problems. Peptide vaccines are therefore seen to be the safest, and they may be employed not only for preventative immunization but also for the treatment of solid malignancies. Clinical studies for peptide vaccines are underway. But because peptide vaccinations are quickly broken down by cells, their drug carriers play a crucial role as well. This article will outline the selection of the protein sequence for the COVID-19 peptide vaccine as well as the development of its tests.

Design and Manufacture of a Micro-Ejector and the Testing Stand for Investigation of Micro-Ejector Refrigeration Systems.

This paper describes the procedure of design and manufacture of a micro-ejector proposed for miniature ejection refrigeration systems. It describes the procedure of design, fabrication, and experimentation on supersonic micro-ejectors and makes the case for isobutane as a working fluid for such systems. It was demonstrated that it is possible to design and fabricate a micro-ejector with a cooling capacity of approximately 3 W. The discussed micro-ejector was driven by a heat source with temperature below 60 °C. The evaporation temperature was approximately 15 °C. For these operating parameters, the reported entrainment ratio was approximately 0.20. The difficulties in fabricating the micro-ejector due to its small dimensions are discussed in the paper. Additionally, the potential difficulties and solutions related to ensuring and maintaining stable operation of the testing stand are presented. The performance of the proposed system is demonstrated and discussed, including relations between mass entrainment ratio, compression ratio, cooling capacity, and temperature.

Organic Solvent Nanofiltration in Pharmaceutical Applications.

Separation and purification in organic solvents are indispensable procedures in pharmaceutical manufacturing. However, they still heavily rely on the conventional separation technologies of distillation and chromatography, resulting in high energy and massive solvent consumption. As an alternative, organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) offers the benefits of low energy consumption, low solid waste generation, and easy scale-up and incorporation into continuous processes. Thus, there is a growing interest in employing membrane technology in the pharmaceutical area to improve process sustainability and energy efficiency. This Review comprehensively summarizes the recent progress (especially the last 10 years) of organic solvent nanofiltration and its applications in the pharmaceutical industry, including the concentration and purification of active pharmaceutical ingredients, homogeneous catalyst recovery, solvent exchange and recovery, and OSN-assisted peptide/oligonucleotide synthesis. Furthermore, the challenges and future perspectives of membrane technology in pharmaceutical applications are discussed in detail.

Influence of heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al–Mg–Si alloy fabricated by double wires + arc additive manufacturing

Al-3.4Mg-1.7Si alloy single-pass and multi-layer thin wall components were fabricated with double wires + arc additive manufacturing procedure. Heat treatment was performed to further process the component. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the as-deposited and heat-treated components were comparatively investigated. After heat treatment, the grains grow up slightly, and the phase particles change to distribute semi-continuously, and a large number of nanoscale monoclinic β″ precipitated phases generate. The porosity increases to 0.0486% from as-deposited 0.0348%. The microhardness, ultimate tensile strength and yield strength are respectively improved by 25%,79%, and 228% with heat treatment process, with the hardness uniformity and elongation decreased.

Abstract 5255: A B7-H3-CAR-modified Vδ1 T cells showed potentanti-solid tumor potential

Abstract Background: CAR-αβT cells have made limited advancement in treating solid tumors. Vδ1 T cells, a subtype of γδT cells, are rare in human peripheral blood, but they are the main tissue-resident immune cells found in epithelial and mucosal tissues. This suggests that Vδ1 T cells might be a potential modality for treating solid tumors. To explore this possibility, we hypothesized that Vδ1 T cells modified with B7-H3 CAR (B7-H3-CAR-Vδ1 T) could have great potential of anti-solid tumor activity, making them a promising candidate for further development as a universal cellular therapy product. Methods: A proprietary manufacturing procedure to produce Vδ1 T cells from the leukopak of healthy donors has been established under GMP compliance. The immune checkpoint molecule B7-H3 was selected as the target. The allogeneic B7-H3-CAR-Vδ1 T cells carrying IL-2 (UTAA06), which displayed the most prolonged anti-tumor activity, were chosen for comprehensive functional validation. Single-cell sequencing and mass spectrometry flow cytometry were utilized to characterize the biology of UTAA06. In vivo effectiveness of UTAA06 was confirmed in animal models. Results: A clinical-grade manufacturing process for Vδ1 T cells is developed. This process results in a purity of over 95% of Vδ1 T cells, with an expansion of more than 20,000-fold, and a CAR lentiviral transduction efficiency of over 50%.žSingle-cell sequencing and mass cytometry analysis both demonstrated that the Vδ1 T cells produced by our approach exhibited high expression levels of natural cytotoxic receptors (including NKG2D, DNAM1, and NKp series receptors), chemokine receptors (such as CXCR3 and CXCR6), anti-tumor related molecules (such as CD27 and CD137), and low expression levels of inhibitory molecules (such as PD1 and LAG3).ž UTAA06 cells did not produce IL17A, which is a signal protein with pro-tumor activity. Meanwhile, UTAA06 demonstrated significant and specific inhibitory effects on the growth of various solid tumor cell lines.žUTAA06 cells were found to significantly suppress tumor cell growth in solid tumor mouse models. The complete remission (CR) for each tumor model was 83.3% of neuroblastoma (SK-N-AS, N=6), 66.7% of pancreatic cancer (SW1990, N=6), 100% of lung cancer (A549, N=6), and 70% of colorectal cancer (HCT-15, N=10) respectively. In addition, a potent capacity of UTAA06 to penetrate tumor tissues with a favorable safety profile in mice was observed. Conclusion: UTAA06 exhibited extraordinary anticancer properties both in vitro and in vivo against solid tumors. Additionally, the outstanding manufacturing process of UTAA06 will facilitate the clinical application of this product. Citation Format: Licui Jiang, Changsong Qi, Fengtao You, Shufen Xiang, Ping Zhang, Min Wang, Hai Wu, Kunmin Yan, Jiequn Huang, Huimin Meng, Nan Yang, Shirley Zhang, Lin Shen, Lin Yang. A B7-H3-CAR-modified Vδ1 T cells showed potentanti-solid tumor potential [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 5255.

Chemistry and Pharmacology of Delta-8-Tetrahydrocannabinol.

Cannabis sativa is one of the oldest plants utilized by humans for both economic and medical purposes. Although the use of cannabis started millennia ago in the Eastern hemisphere, its use has moved and flourished in the Western nations in more recent centuries. C. sativa is the source of psychoactive cannabinoids that are consumed as recreational drugs worldwide. The C21 aromatic hydrocarbons are restricted in their natural occurrence to cannabis (with a few exceptions). Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) is the main psychoactive component in cannabis, with many pharmacological effects and various approved medical applications. However, a wide range of side effects are associated with the use of Δ9-THC, limiting its medical use. In 1966, another psychoactive cannabinoid, Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC) was isolated from marijuana grown in Maryland but in very low yield. Δ8-THC is gaining increased popularity due to its better stability and easier synthetic manufacturing procedures compared to Δ9-THC. The passing of the U.S. Farm Bill in 2018 led to an increase in the sale of Δ8-THC in the United States. The marketed products contain Δ8-THC from synthetic sources. In this review, methods of extraction, purification, and structure elucidation of Δ8-THC will be presented. The issue of whether Δ8-THC is a natural compound or an artifact will be discussed, and the different strategies for its chemical synthesis will be presented. Δ8-THC of synthetic origin is expected to contain some impurities due to residual amounts of starting materials and reagents, as well as side products of the reactions. The various methods of analysis and detection of impurities present in the marketed products will be discussed. The pharmacological effects of Δ8-THC, including its interaction with CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors in comparison with Δ9-THC, will be reviewed.

A Study to Know the Impact of AI on Sustainability of Products in the Carbonated Beverages

Carbonated beverage businesses are using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to sustainability in a variety of ways to streamline their processes, boost output, and improve the customer experience. The businesses in the carbonated beverage sector use AI in the following ways, Coca-Cola is enhancing its supply chain administration by utilizing AI. The business has created a platform powered by AI that applies machine learning algorithms to improve its distribution and manufacturing procedures. The platform aids the business in improved demand forecasting, inventory level optimization, cost-effective transportation, voice activated vending machines. PepsiCo: To create novel product formulations, PepsiCo is utilizing AI. The business has developed an AI-powered platform that examines customer preferences and spots market trends. The business can develop new products thanks to this platform. Dr. Pepper Snapple Group: Dr. Pepper Snapple Group is enhancing its marketing initiatives with artificial intelligence. The business has created an AI-driven platform that analyses customer data and enables it to develop more specialized and individualized marketing campaigns. The platform enables the business to deliver more pertinent and efficient marketing messages by assisting in the better understanding of customer preferences and behaviour. Keurig Dr Pepper: Keurig Dr Pepper is using AI to enhance its customer service. The business has created an AI-powered chatbot that can instantly respond to customer inquiries and help. The chatbot uses machine learning algorithms and natural language processing to comprehend customer queries and deliver pertinent and useful responses. Overall, the carbonated beverage industry is using AI technology in a variety of methods. Keywords- carbonated beverage, artificial intelligence (AI), supply chain administration, demand forecasting, inventory optimization, transportation optimization, voice activated vending machines, product formulation, customer preferences, market trends, marketing campaigns, customer service, chatbot, machine learning algorithms, natural language processing.

Assessing the impact of various tuberculin PPD brands on bovine tuberculosis diagnosis

Although several brands of tuberculin purified protein derivatives (PPDs) are available for diagnosing bovine tuberculosis (bTB), comparative studies to determine their diagnostic accuracy are infrequent. In Ecuador we compared two different PPD brands for bTB diagnosis using skin testing and measuring skin thickness increase. Additionally, we evaluated four PPD brands, including those used for skin testing, in the Bovine Tuberculosis Interferon Gamma Test (IFN-γ test) measuring IFN-γ induction in whole blood. The study included 17 naturally tuberculosis-infected PPD and IFN-γ test positive bovines. Both the field and laboratory results showed significant differences in classifying the 17 bovines as bTB positive or negative. We hypothesize that several factors, such as the genetic background of the cows, sensitization to environmental mycobacteria, M. bovis strains involved in the bTB infection, and the manufacturing procedures of the PPDs, could have influenced the immune reaction toward the different tuberculin PPD brands. Our study emphasizes the necessity for comparative studies aimed at determining the diagnostic accuracy of PPD brands for bTB diagnosis as well as the development of standardized methods for PPD production and potency determination.

Quantification of p-Phenylenediamine in Hair Dyes and Health Risk Implications in the UAE: Describing Discordances Between Regulations and Real-Life Practices.

p-Phenylenediamine (PPD) has been used over the past five decadesas a primary precursor in the production of oxidative hair dyes. Numerous health dangers are associated with the short- and long-term use of PPD, raising concerns about its safety. For instance, mounting data suggests that PPD is linked to dermatitis and allergy cases. To quantify the PPD content in hair dyes by measuring the PPD concentration after mixing the ingredients of commercial hair dyes. A total of 290 permanent hair dyes were tested. RP-HPLC-DAD analysis was performed to determine and quantify the PPD content. The estimated mean of the PPD limit was 0.89 (95% CI [0.81-0.96]). Of the 290 tested hair dyes, 7.2% (n = 21) exceeded the recommended PPD concentration after mixing. Significantly more hair dyes manufactured in India and China had a PPD content exceeding 2% after mixing compared to dyes from other regions (P = 0.001). Moreover, hair dyes manufactured in India and the UAE were more likely to have incomplete descriptions of the conditions of use and warnings on the label (P = 0.002). The effectiveness of the current regulations relevant to these products should be reevaluated. Moreover, through the use of good manufacturing procedures (GMPs), research, and the reporting of adverse reactions, hair dyes should be subjected to better control and monitoring in terms oftheir safety and quality.

Harnessing HetHydrogel: A Universal Platform to Dropletize Single-Cell Multiomics.

A universal platform is developed for dropletizing single cell plate-based multiomic assays, consisting of three main pillars: a miniaturized open Heterogeneous Hydrogel reactor (abbreviated HetHydrogel) for multi-step biochemistry, its tunable permeability that allows Tn5 tagmentation, and single cell droplet barcoding. Through optimizing the HetHydrogel manufacturing procedure, the chemical composition, and cell permeation conditions, simultaneous high-throughput mitochondrial DNA genotyping and chromatin profiling at the single-cell level are demonstrated using a mixed-species experiment. This platform offers a powerful way to investigate the genotype-phenotype relationships of various mtDNA mutations in biological processes. The HetHydrogel platform is believed to have the potential to democratize droplet technologies, upgrading a whole range of plate-based single cell assays to high throughput format.