Our Mission
CAMbio-pH is in agreement with the subsequent drives:
- Materials research can be presented starting from the materials themselves (e.g. biomaterials, polymers) or the industrial sector (e.g. chemistry) or their applications (e.g. energy, health, transport) as well through other approaches. Materials profit from a wide range of scientific disciplines, such as chemistry, physics, biology and engineering, as well as from all available technologies and multidisciplinary approaches, like nanotechnology and biotechnology.
- Research should respond to people's needs and concerns with integrated solutions that tie energy, natural resources and human health. Mastering the design, research and development of new and improved materials will remain key for achieving the goals of the European Innovation Policy, in agreement with the European Strategy for a smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.
- Materials can enable industrial and commercial success for both existing and not-yet existing products and processes: they may introduce new functionalities and improved properties adding value to existing products and process, thus representing an invisible revolution; at the same time, the engineered production of materials by design might allow the development of products and processes under a really sustainable systemic approach.
- Life sciences and biotechnology are main innovation drivers in the European Union. They lead to new growth and competitiveness in traditional sectors, such as chemical industries (including the pharmaceutical), textile companies and many others.
Objectives
The main objective of CAMbio-pH is the design and development of unprecedently reported bioactive functional materials able to induce and control pH variations. The innovative materials will be based on CO2 separation technologies by making use of thermostable Carbonic Anhydrase enzymes of bacterial origin.
This main objective will be attained by reaching the following sub-objectives:
- To clone, express and purify recombinant thermostable and thermoactive Carbonic Anhydrase (CA; EC 4.2.1.1) enzymes from S. Yellowstonense (SspCA) and S. Azorense (SazCA) using new and cost effective molecular biology procedures.
- To immobilize SspCA and SazCA over ad hoc synthesized host supports composed of polyolefinic polymers. Characterization of the physico/chemical and kinetic properties of the obtained materials.
- To synthesize mesoporous spherical silica nanoparticles encapsulating SspCA and SazCA within their cavities. The materials obtained will be properly characterized for their structural and kinetic properties.
This proposal aims to establish a radically new definition of bioactive materialswith unprecedented kinetics, stability and working operational ranges which meet the requirements of being durable, biocompatible and associated to low costs of production.