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Rare earth elements (REEs) have become increasingly important materials owing to their use in the high-tech and clean-energy industries. However, the unpredictable supply, possible health risks, and environmentally unsustainable extraction practices associated with REEs have encouraged the development of green technologies for the selective extraction and recovery of metals. This study presents a simple and innovative approach for the selective extraction and recovery of total REEs. Elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) and the REE-binding domain (lanmodulin) are fused to form REEs-sensitive and thermo-responsive genetically encoded ELP called RELP, where ELP offered a reversible, inverse phase transition for repeated uses. The RELP are purified and used for the selective extraction of total REEs from competing non-REEs metals by controlling the solution temperature (4 and 37 °C) and pH. RELP exhibit high REE specificity, even in the presence of non-REE metal ions. The bound REEs are readily recovered during at least six repeated cycles, and the efficiency is maintained. Moreover, REEs are selectively recovered by RELP from steel slag leachate, a potential industrial source of REEs. RELP offers a rapid, selective, and scalable method for REE extraction and recovery. This technology can be adapted to recover other precious metals and commodities.

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Contexts: Sauromatum guttatum (Wall.) Schott (Araceae) has been traditionally used for the treatment of wounds.Objectives: This study evaluates the healing and tissue regeneration potential of S. guttatum extract in burn wounds.Materials and methods: S. guttatum extract was analysed using various chemical tests, thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Moreover, the extract was tested against burn associated bacteria and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was also calculated. Wound healing and tissue regeneration potential was assessed using a thermally induced burn BALBc mouse model. S. guttatum extract (2% w/w) prepared in petroleum jelly, vehicle and positive control [silver sulfadiazine (SD)] groups was applied three times a day. The treatment was continued for 15 d and wound closure was measured and photographed on day 5, 10 and 15. The burnt tissues excised from wounds were subjected to histological and comparative gene expression analysis.Results: The results of the chemical tests indicated the presence of alkaloids, saponins, phenols, phytosterols, tannins, and flavonoids, while TLC and HPLC analysis indicated the presence of various compounds. The extract showed excellent activity against the tested pathogens. The lowest MIC (125 µg/mL) was observed against Staphylococcus aureus. A considerable decrease in wound area (72%) was observed in extract-treated group. Histological examination of extract-treated group showed good signs of wound healing with complete re-epithelialization and better tissue regeneration. Comparative gene expression analysis revealed the up-regulation of wound healing related PDGF, EGF and FGF genes.Conclusions: S. guttatum extract may be used to isolate bioactive constituents for the treatment of burn wounds.

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