Towards More Sustainable Biosynthesis of Pharmaceuticals, Fragrance Molecules, and Beyond
Abstract
Enzymes are natural catalysts which are gaining momentum as greener and more selective alternatives to traditional chemical synthesis. However, enzymes are not adapted to the non-natural conditions often required in industrial processes (i.e. extreme temperature, organic co-solvents). Hence, they suffer from low stability which impacts their sustainability and cost-efficiency. To unlock the synthetic potential of enzymes, my research has been focused on novel enzyme immobilization strategies and their exploitation in continuous-flow biocatalytic reactors. Specifically, the biosynthesis of antivirals, anticancer drugs, and valuable fragrance molecules have been boosted (up to 100-fold) by new design of immobilized biocatalysts, innovative bioengineering approaches, and process development.
Enzymes are natural catalysts which are gaining momentum as greener and more selective alternatives to traditional chemical synthesis. However, enzymes are not adapted to the non-natural conditions often required in industrial processes (i.e. extreme temperature, organic co-solvents). Hence, they suffer from low stability which impacts their sustainability and cost-efficiency. To unlock the synthetic potential of enzymes, my research has been focused on novel enzyme immobilization strategies and their exploitation in continuous-flow biocatalytic reactors. Specifically, the biosynthesis of antivirals, anticancer drugs, and valuable fragrance molecules have been boosted (up to 100-fold) by new design of immobilized biocatalysts, innovative bioengineering approaches, and process development.
Practical information
- General public
- Free
Contact
- Marta Ruiz Cumi: [email protected]