Objective
The Nano3Bio project convenes a consortium of world renowned experts from 8 EU universities, 1 large company, and 14 SME, to develop biotechnological production systems for nanoformulated chitosans. Chitosans, chitin-derived polysaccharides varying in their degree of polymerisation (DP), degree of acetylation (DA), and pattern of acetylation (PA), are among the most versatile and most promising biopolymers, with excellent physico-chemical and material properties, and a wide range of biological functionalities, but their economic potential is far from being exploited due to i) problems with reproducibility of biological activities as today’s chitosans are rather poorly defined mixtures, and ii) the threat of allergen contamination from their typical animal origin. The Nano3Bio project will overcome these hurdles to market entry and penetration by producing in vitro and in vivo defined oligo- and polymers with controlled, tailor-made DP, DA, and PA. Genes for chitin synthases, chitin deacetylases, and transglycosylating chitinases/chitosanases will be mined from different (meta)genomic sources and heterologously expressed, the recombinant enzymes characterized and optimized by protein engineering through rational design and molecular evolution, e.g. targeting engineered glycosynthases. These enzymes and genes will be used for in vitro and in vivo biosynthesis in microbial and microalgal systems, focusing on bacteria and diatoms. The bioinspired chitosans will be formulated into biomineralised hydrogels, nanoparticles, nanoscaffolds, etc., to impart novel properties, including by surface nano-imprinting, and will be bench-marked against their conventional counterparts in a variety of cell based assays and routine industrial tests for e.g. cosmetics and pharma markets. The process will be accompanied by comprehensive life cycle assessments including thorough legal landscaping, and by dissemination activities targeted to the scientific community and the general public.
Fields of science
Not validated
Not validated
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriology
- natural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciences
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculescarbohydrates
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmolecular biologymolecular evolution
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsenzymes
Call for proposal
FP7-KBBE-2013-7-single-stage
See other projects for this call
Coordinator
48149 MUENSTER
Germany
See on map
Participants (21)
9000 Gent
See on map
08017 Barcelona
See on map
100 44 Stockholm
See on map
75794 Paris
See on map
2800 Kongens Lyngby
See on map
69117 Heidelberg
See on map
500046 HYDERABAD
See on map
93053 REGENSBURG
See on map
54100 NANCY
See on map
20354 HAMBURG
See on map
9042 Desteldonk Gent
See on map
08028 BARCELONA
See on map
10557 BERLIN
See on map
9000 Aalborg
See on map
40764 Langenfeld
See on map
69616 Villeurbanne
See on map
See on map
48143 MUNSTER
See on map
06120 HALLE
See on map
08028 BARCELONA
See on map
9830 Sint Martens Latem
See on map