Project description
Assembling nature's building blocks in new ways for novel bioproducts
Proteins and polysaccharides (complex carbohydrates) are nature's polymers, large molecules made of repeating small units (monomers). In the case of proteins, the units are peptides. In the case of polysaccharides, the units are saccharides or simpler sugars. The EU-funded PEPSA-MATE project has created a multidisciplinary team including early stage researchers to derive novel products from nature's building blocks using rational design. The team is creating a library of nanopeptides and nanosaccharides and an innovative computer platform to 'discover' advanced biopolymers for biomedical and commercial applications. Besides being eco-friendly alternatives to conventional fossil fuel-derived plastics, they will also be biofunctional and biocompatible for use as drug-delivery platforms.
Objective
Long-range research and innovation goal towards transformative biomaterials and technologies: The long-range goal of PEPSA-MATE is to develop and translate sustainable nanostructured functional materials, based on peptides and polysaccharides, using computer-based theoretical design approach and innovative fabrication technologies.PEPSA-MATE will generate a library of functional nanosaccharides and nanopeptides to be used as building blocks for the fabrication of advanced biomaterials.
Key Research and Innovation Goals: The objective of PEPSA-MATE is to turn biopolymers into sustainable products using innovative technologies. This will result in alternative biomaterial to conventional, non-degradable synthetic polymers and inorganic materials.
Scientific impact: Translation opportunities will be explored in three topic research areas; 1) Phytoglycogen nanoparticles to fabricate bioadhesives, bioplastics and drug carriers; 2) Ultrasonic fabrication of biofunctional nanopeptides; 3) Nanostructured saccharide microparticles as universal platform to deliver a wide range of therapeutic molecules.
Impact on early-stage researchers: PEPSA-MATE involves key participation of junior researchers providing strong support for the development of their careers.
Intersectoral dimension: PEPSA-MATE will develop intersectoral collaborations between a SME and academic partners to boost entrepreneurship creativity towards sustainable products and processes.
Interdisciplinary dimension: PEPSA-MATE will bring together interdisciplinary and complementary expertise in the field of nanomaterials science, polysaccharides and peptides chemistry, acoustic technologies, cell biology, biophysics, and computational modelling. International dimension: PEPSA-MATE will enable long-term, transformative research collaborations between research groups and SMEs settled in European Countries (Italy, Czech Rep., Germany and Spain) and in four non-EU Countries (Australia, Brazil, Cuba and South Africa).
Fields of science
- natural sciencesbiological sciencescell biology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculescarbohydrates
- engineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materials
- social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicssustainable economy
- engineering and technologyindustrial biotechnologybiomaterialsbioplastics
Programme(s)
Coordinator
00133 Roma
Italy