Abstract: A device for vitrifying bioactive agents and delivering vitrified bioactive agents includes a top housing having an inner and outer surface and a perimeter. A bottom housing has an inner and outer surface and a perimeter. An interconnect structure interconnects the housings to define an interior volume between the inner surfaces of the top and bottom housings. The bottom housing may be formed of a flexible material such that the bottom housing is deformable between a first configuration wherein the bottom housing is curved away from the top housing, and a second configuration wherein the bottom housing is curved toward the top housing. The interconnect structure may interconnect the top and bottom housing in a first position wherein the inner surfaces are spaced apart by a first distance, and in a second position wherein the surfaces are spaced apart by a second distance that is less than the first distance.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for non-cryogenic vitrification of particles, lipid particles, lipid particle compositions and mRNA vaccine compositions that include a lipid particle, the processes including the steps of providing a lipid particle within a vitrification medium on a capillary network within a desiccation chamber and providing both a heat energy and a lowered atmospheric pressure to provide for rapid vitrification without the vitrification medium or lipid particles experiencing cryogenic temperature or boiling as a result of lowered atmospheric pressure. The lipid particle can be later reconstituted after long term storage at ambient or higher temperature and still retain structural integrity and activity.

Abstract: Provided herein is a rapid lateral flow device for detection of a target analyte in a liquid biological sample comprising a membrane strip, the membrane strip including: a matrix; a conjugate pad having at least one reporter vitrified into the matrix; one or more test sites including a covalently or electrostatically bound capture agent vitrified into or onto the matrix; and, optionally, a control line including one or more capture agents vitrified into or onto the matrix. Also provided are methods of rapid detection of a target analyte in a liquid biological sample.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for storage of nucleic acids from a biological sample. The process comprises providing a biological sample comprising one or more cells containing nucleic acids therein; contacting the biological sample with a vitrification medium comprising a vitrification agent and a lysing agent to form a vitrification mixture; vitrifying the vitrification mixture to generate a storage-stable sample. In various aspects, the storage-stable sample can be stored at a temperature above cryogenic temperatures, such as at room temperature, for 20 days or more.

Abstract: There is a need for a broadly applicable, strain non-specific, bioluminescent imaging tool that will enable researchers to study a ?-cell mass in the context of development, disease or transplantation. The disclosure, therefore, encompasses embodiments of a method of identifying a non-diabetic pancreatic ?-cell, the method comprising the steps of: delivering to a pancreatic ?-cell a composition comprising a coelenterazine; allowing the ?-cell to generate a coelenterazine-dependent bioluminescent signal; and identifying the cell as a non-diabetic pancreatic ?-cell by detecting the emitted coelenterazine-dependent bioluminescent signal.