Visegrad Grant – Central European network for wider application of electrospun nanofibers
Nanofibers are an emerging field with applications in filtration and pharmaceuticals (especially in wound dressing, smart implants and drug delivery). The project aims to create a network of excellence in the field of nanofibers in the V4 countries involving three respected academic institutions and industrial partners. The planned activities include a conference and a workshop with industrial experts involved and researcher mobility between the three countries (Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary).
This project is supported by Visegrad Fund (project ID 223110110)
Development of Lab-on-a-chip platforms for investigation of protein-ligand interaction
Several researches related to the medical and pharmaceutical sciences, aim the synthesis of an increasing number and compounds with high diversity, targeting the deeper understanding of the physiological function of proteins and enzymes and / or to influence and regulate them. Proteins, but in many cases potential protein ligands, can only be produced in limited quantities, so the development of methods and tools suitable for rapid analysis applying small sample sizes can be a key issue. This research is focusing on the development a Lab-on-a-chip-based (LOC) device for ligand binding assays of two selected proteins important for drug discovery, human tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and human serum albumin (HSA). Continuous flow LOC reactors can eliminate the disadvantages of conventional laboratory methods such as large number of manual operations, higher reagent requirements, or isolation of interfering components. In the case of TH enzyme, potential inhibitor and substrate molecules will be investigated, while in the case of HSA protein both the binding balance of drug compounds and bioactive excipients and the enzymatic function of HSA will be characterized. Integrating LOC-based protein-ligand interactions into a LOC-based reactor can provide new insights for the exploring of functional properties of proteins.
This research is supported by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (Grant number: FK-137582)
Nanostructured catalyst systems for sustainable biotransformations
The enzymes in their natural or recombinant form have high substrate specificity and high selectivity, thus by enzyme catalysts several optically active compounds can be synthesized efficiently. However, their catalytically active and enantioselective state may be sensitive under the reaction conditions. In addition, biocatalysts are hard to isolate from the homogenous reaction media. Due these disadvantages, the application of native enzymes as catalyst results in serious technological challenges. As the range of enzyme-catalyzed processes extends, more and more complicated reaction conditions and reactor systems may be required. The solid, nanostructured enzyme carriers have unique advantage, that they have large surface area and high stability, and their physico-chemical properties are fine-tunable and adaptable to the requirements of enzyme catalysis. Due to the growing importance of recombinant enzymes and proteins the downstream processes of these valuable biotechnological products cause several technological difficulties. The result of these project can be a novel carrier family and methodology, which are able to isolation, stabilization and immobilization the desired enzyme in parallel way, providing directly applicable biocatalysts.
This research is supported by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (Grant number: PD-131467)
Self-assembling Multi Layer Enzyme Network for Flow Biocatalysis
Small-scale flow reactors have increasingly gained attention in academia and industry as convenient tools for more efficient syntheses compared to the traditional batch procedures. These small-scale reactors provide uniform residence times, well-defined flow patterns, and precise reaction control. However, most of the applications to date focus on synthetic organic chemistry using traditional (precious metal based) catalysts. In this joined project between the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, the University of Ljubljana, and KU Leuven we will explore a novel microreactor for flow biocatalysis, i.e. enzyme catalysed reactions. In these microreactors the enzyme will be immobilized in the reactor in a layer-by-layer structure cross-linked by nanoparticles, resulting in a three-dimensional network. Within this network we will combine the expertise of each partner to manufacture, analyse and apply these reactors: The surface functionalization and creation of the multilayer enzyme network is performed at Budapest University of Technology and Economics. Fundamental insight into the spatial arrangement of the enzymes and nanoparticles in the layers is provided via a modelling approach by the University of Ljubljana. Finally, KU Leuven will perform the reactor characterization, i.e. determine their porosity (free-flow area ratio in the reactor) and mixing properties. Subsequently, these reactors will be applied to transamination reactions. In conclusion, upon finalization this project will deliver a novel microreactor tool enabling flow biocatalysis.
This research is supported by Central Europe Leuven Strategic Alliance, CELSA (Grant number: CELSA-20-243)
Development of nanocarrier systems to optimize automated and scalable catalytic syntheses
Throughout the research period, the goal is to develop nanostructured (solid particles, tubes and fibrous materials, as well as nanoporous matrices) support families that can be immobilized on catalysts by consciously synthesizing and fine-tuning their surface properties. The physicochemical properties of the supports can be well adapted to the catalytic agent, so its operation, stability and handling can be significantly improved. Fixed catalysts (precious metal, metal-porphyrin-based) that require a small sample volume and are easily separable can be efficiently and economically integrated into processes for the production of high-value fine chemicals (eg, biologically active substances, their intermediates and metabolites).
This research is supported by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office in the frame of Intensification of chemical technologies Project, (Grant number: BME-TKP-NKA-05)