Evaluation of the potential of protein immobilization by physical adsorption on carbon nanotubes and xerogels as a low-cost purification tool.

• Grant number: 25/02380-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Heitor Buzetti Simões Bento
• Grantee: Milena Lorenzi da Silva
• Supervisor: Ana Paula Mora Tavares
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidade de Aveiro (UA), Portugal
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/13073-0 - Development of lipase purification strategies by physical adsorption on organic supports as a low-cost alternative, BP.IC

Abstract

Given the academic and industrial relevance of lipases, due to their numerous applications in essential industries such as pharmaceuticals, food and fuel, it is understood that a reduction in their production cost will have a significant impact on the world market. Since enzyme purification processes directly contribute up to 80% of the final cost of the product, this work proposes a simple and promising alternative for low-cost lipase purification. To this end, the potential of physical adsorption of proteins on carbon nanotubes and xerogels, biocompatible supports with excellent physicochemical properties, will be evaluated.In addition, the optimum contact time with the supports and nanoparticle diameter will be investigated. The enzymatic activities will be determined using the olive oil hydrolysis method, and the adsorption and desorption conditions will be investigated and optimized. The best materials and conditions will be subjected to purification tests in media obtained by submerged cultivation of lipase-producing microorganisms. In this way, the potential of the materials in question for application in the purification of microbial lipases will be studied.