Abstract: Methods and materials are provided for the preferential separation of rare earth elements (REEs) from non-REEs in REE-containing materials and separation of certain REEs from other REEs, both individually and in groups. Such methods include steps of (a) providing a protein that can selectively bind one or more REEs; (b) contacting the protein with the REE-containing material, wherein the protein binds at least a portion of the one or more REEs to form one or more protein-REE complexes and an REE-depleted material; (c) separating the one or more protein-REE complexes from at least a portion of the REE-depleted material; and (d) separating the one or more REEs from the protein to produce a purified fraction of the one or more REEs and a regenerated protein.

Abstract: Hollow glass microspheres (HGMS) with a controlled nanotopographical surface structure (NSHGMS) demonstrate improved isolation and recovery of cell from biological fluid. NSHGMS can be achieved by applying layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of negatively charged SiO2 nanoparticles and positively charged poly-L-arginine molecules. Then, a sheathing can be applied to the surface with an enzymatically degradable LbL film made from biotinylated alginate and poly-L-arginine. Further, a cap of anti-EpCAM antibodies and anti-fouling PEG molecules can be applied to the sheathed film covering the microspheres. Compared to smooth-surfaced HGMS, NSHGMS reveals shorter isolation times, enhanced capture efficiency and lower detection limit in, for example, commonly used cancer cell lines. An NSHGMS-based cell isolation method does not require specialized lab equipment or an external power source, and thus, can be used for separation of targeted cells from blood or other body fluid in a resource-limited environment.

Abstract: This disclosure provides microbes for the preferential separation of Scandium (Sc) from rare earth element (REE) containing materials, as well as methods of use thereof.