Development of an enzyme-based platform technology for production and modulation of nanocellulose: validation for biomedical and food packaging applications

• Grant number: 21/07023-2
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants - Phase 2
• Start date: February 01, 2022
• End date: January 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Enzymology
• Principal Investigator: Valdeir Arantes
• Grantee: Valdeir Arantes
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Morun Bernardino Neto ; Orlando Jose Rojas Gaona ; Tatiane da Franca Silva
• Associated research grant: 15/02862-5 - NANOCEL - development of enzyme mixtures for the preparation of nanocelluloses by a biohibrid process, AP.BIOEN.JP
• Associated research grant(s): 22/04525-0 - Multi-user equipment approved in grant 2021/07023-2: Atomic Force Microscope, AP.EMU; 22/04529-5 - 'Multi-user equipment approved in grant 2021/07023-2: Universal Test Machine, AP.EMU; 22/04532-6 - Multi-user equipment approved in grant 2021/07023-2: Reometer, AP.EMU
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/10517-8 - Development of transdermal systems from cellulose nanofibers with low hydrophilicity for the delivery of hydrophobic bioactives, BP.IC; 25/12601-6 - Techno-Economic Analysis for the Development of Nanocellulose-Based Materials, BP.PD; 25/08241-4 - Life cycle assessment of nanocelluloses produced by enzyme-based technologies, BP.PD; 24/10503-4 - Improvements and scale-up of spherical nanocellulose production via enzymatic hydrolysis and hydrodynamic cavitation, BP.DR; 22/11125-8 - Optimization of the production of nanocrystalline cellulose, enzymatic pathway, from mechanically pre-treated cellulosic pulp, BP.IC

Abstract

The various unique properties of nanocelluloses make them very attractive renewable building blocks for a broad spectrum of industrial and consumer applications. However, their commercialization has been slow due to the still high production costs and to the lack of commercial availability, at low cost, of nanocelluloses with different sets of properties, even within the same type of nanocelulose, a requisite to reach optimum performance in different applications. This project aims build on the fundamental scientific knowledge and the patent pending enzyme-based technologies created as a result of the previous Young Investigator Grant, to develop an innovative, viable, robust, and scalable enzyme-based platform technology that enables manufacturing of nanocelluloses at various grades, suitable for achieving optimal performance in a variety application. Initially, research efforts will be focused to establish a correlation between enzyme's mode action/properties with the properties of produced nanocelluloses, which will allow better exploitation of the specificity of the enzymes and the unique process' mild reaction conditions to improve process efficiency and to efficiently yield nanocelluloses with custom-made properties. Further customization of nanocellulose properties will be through green posttreatments to biograft molecules of renewable origin to allow green production of hydrophobic nanocelluloses and nanocelluloses with antimicrobial and UV protection properties, which are properties highly desired for numerous applications. These custom-made nanocelluloses will be used to develop innovative nanocellulose-based materials using 3D printing for biomedical applications (wound dressings and transdermal drug delivery system) and food packing (active packaging). In addition, data produced from the scaling up step will be used for economic and environmental assessments. (AU)

Scientific publications

(14)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LAS-CASAS, BRUNO; DIAS, ISABELLA K. R.; YUPANQUI-MENDOZA, SERGIO LUIS; PEREIRA, BARBARA; COSTA, GUILHERME R.; ROJAS, ORLANDO J.; ARANTES, VALDEIR. The emergence of hybrid cellulose nanomaterials as promising biomaterials. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, v. 250, p. 27-pg., 2023-10-01. (21/04324-1, 21/07023-2)

BERTO, GABRIELA L.; MATTOS, BRUNO D.; VELASCO, JOSMAN; ZHAO, BIN; SEGATO, FERNANDO; ROJAS, ORLANDO J.; ARANTES, VALDEIR. Endoglucanase effects on energy consumption in the mechanical fibrillation of cellulose fibers into nanocelluloses. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, v. 243, p. 9-pg., 2023-06-13. (15/02862-5, 19/22284-7, 21/07023-2, 21/06679-1)

YUPANQUI-MENDOZA, SERGIO LUIS; DIAS, ISABELA KAROLINE; DOS SANTOS, JULIO CESAR; ARANTES, VALDEIR. A novel approach for producing stable cellulose nanocrystal colloidal suspensions via hydrodynamic cavitation. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND PROCESSING, v. 209, p. 11-pg., 2025-03-01. (21/07023-2, 24/10503-4)

BENINI, KELLY CRISTINA COELHO DE CARVALHO; MAROTTI, BRAZ DE SOUZA; ARANTES, VALDEIR. Hydrophobic enzymatic cellulose nanocrystals via a novel, one-pot green method. Carbohydrate Research, v. 534, p. 11-pg., 2023-10-19. (21/07023-2)

LAS-CASAS, BRUNO; ARANTES, VALDEIR. From production to performance: Tailoring moisture and oxygen barrier of cellulose nanomaterials for sustainable applications - A review. Carbohydrate Polymers, v. 334, p. 17-pg., 2024-03-13. (21/07023-2, 21/04324-1)

YUPANQUI-MENDOZA, SERGIO LUIS; ARANTES, VALDEIR. An enzymatic hydrolysis-based platform technology for the efficient high-yield production of cellulose nanospheres. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, v. 278, p. 15-pg., 2024-08-12. (21/07023-2)

YUPANQUI-MENDOZA, SERGIO LUIS; PRADO, CARINA ALINE; DOS SANTOS, JULIO CESAR; ARANTES, VALDEIR. Hydrodynamic cavitation as a promising pretreatment technology to enhance the efficiency of cellulose nanocrystal production via enzymatic hydrolysis. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL, v. 472, p. 12-pg., 2023-07-19. (21/07023-2)

BENINI, KELLY CRISTINA COELHO DE CARVALHO; YUPANQUI-MENDOZA, SERGIO LUIS; ARANTES, VALDEIR. Impact of enzymatic hydrolysis and drying on cellulose nanocrystal properties. Carbohydrate Research, v. 555, p. 14-pg., 2025-09-01. (21/07023-2, 24/10503-4)

BENINI, KELLY CRISTINA COELHO DE CARVALHO; ARANTES, VALDEIR. Evaluating the reinforcing potential of enzymatic cellulose nanocrystals in polypropylene nanocomposite. Carbohydrate Research, v. 542, p. 12-pg., 2024-06-14. (21/07023-2)

LAS-CASAS, BRUNO; ARANTES, VALDEIR. Endoglucanase pretreatment aids in isolating tailored-cellulose nanofibrils combining energy saving and high-performance packaging. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, v. 242, p. 15-pg., 2023-06-07. (21/04324-1, 21/07023-2)

DIAS, ISABELLA K. R.; LACERDA, BRUNA K.; ARANTES, VALDEIR. High-yield production of rod-like and spherical nanocellulose by controlled enzymatic hydrolysis of mechanically pretreated cellulose. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, v. 242, p. 15-pg., 2023-06-07. (21/07023-2, 15/02862-5)

ARANTES, VALDEIR; LAS-CASAS, BRUNO; DIAS, ISABELLA K. R.; YUPANQUI-MENDOZA, SERGIO LUIS; NOGUEIRA, CARLAILE F. O.; MARCONDES, WILIAN F.. Enzymatic approaches for diversifying bioproducts from cellulosic biomass. CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS, v. 60, n. 72, p. 29-pg., 2024-07-26. (21/11907-3, 15/02862-5, 15/00397-3, 21/07023-2, 20/04665-0, 21/04324-1)

DA CRUZ, TATIANE TOBIAS; LAS-CASAS, BRUNO; DIAS, ISABELLA KAROLINE RIBEIRO; ARANTES, VALDEIR. Nanocelluloses as sustainable emerging technologies: State of the art and future challenges based on life cycle assessment. SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES, v. 41, p. 36-pg., 2024-08-22. (21/07023-2, 21/04324-1)

LAS-CASAS, BRUNO; ARANTES, VALDEIR. Exploring xylan removal via enzymatic post-treatment to tailor the properties of cellulose nanofibrils for packaging film applications. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, v. 274, p. 12-pg., 2024-06-28. (21/07023-2, 21/04324-1)