Biomaterials are produced thanks to bacteria, waste reuse and applications in the market. These are the topics of the conference “Bio-Based Models for the Future: Generation, High-tech, Circular”, scheduled for Thursday, October 27 starting at 9 in the Montessori Hall of the Città della Scienza in Naples, within the Innovation Village. A meeting organized by the Department of Research, Innovation and Startups of the Campania region, which will witness between the prestigious universities, research laboratories and start-ups already involved in the sector and which, in a few years from now, could completely renew the market in some specific products, starting with “bio-foundries” .
“This is a new concept of industrial production, where skilled workers are not human beings but biological entities, practically bacteria and enzymes, that can process things,” explains Professor Paolo Nitti, Director of IIT @ CRIB (Centre for Research in Advanced Biomaterials) and lecturer at the University of Naples Federico II. We can basically train bacteria to produce something that is good for us. We think of nature, of the seed that gives life to a tree – continues Professor Nettie – and now we think of another seed that makes a chair or table grow directly. Here’s what could happen.”
In this sense, Naples represents excellence in the panorama of the world: “Federico II is at the forefront of research in biology and biotechnology, but also science and materials in productive processes, artificial intelligence. Moreover, compared to other contexts, in Naples there is a tradition around the search for Bacteria that live in harsh situations, such as Solfatara. So – adds Paolo Netti – in Naples it is already possible to produce from scratch with a sustainable process. From the selection of bacteria and from sub-projects, Napolitan companies are already using bacteria that deposit cellulose and it is an example of what can is happening “.
“Our laboratory – confirms Marco Abreu, head of the BIOlogic research laboratory – challenges the stereotype of the Campania region because we produce materials from waste, from waste. We produce a raw material, a biofilm – processed in completely sustainable methods without plastic polymers and chemicals – that has properties similar to leather Animals Used in Textile Companies;With other treatments, always natural, the wet material can be used on cosmetics to produce face masks or gels that replace microplastics.Fully bio-transferable, lab-bred, low-cost, biodegradable materials waste thanks to non-pathogenic microorganisms, such as yeast.Our laboratory benefits from a core partnership with the Interdepartmental Center for Biomaterials Research of the University and Federico II and from various collaborations with Cnr Institutes, and has developed starting with research projects funded by the Ministry of Economic Development universities and the Campania region, some of which are still in progress.”
“These substances – defines alma sardo – are produced from the biological waste of fruits and vegetables, and also help to reduce food waste. Thus the waste is transformed into a biofilm.”
Specialized research, skills and technologies in this field have already been implemented by TecUp, a start-up from Campania that offers its expertise to “break the fabric of entrepreneurship, universities and research laboratories” as President Filippo Amirati defines. “With Tec-Up, we are working in three areas of intervention. On innovative materials, those with a low environmental footprint and products from recovery and recycling processes to manufacturing. On applying sustainable process development in the food sector. And again in production with new digital and 3D manufacturing technologies.” We are engaged in the production of new materials, in particular, nano-cellulose produced by bacteria designed for the textile, fashion and leather goods sector, which gives good results to replace the original fibers, but is also useful in the production of things.A material that also offers great prospects in the cosmetics sector, to get rid of particles Microplastics found in formulations of ointments and creams, with the potential to also be used in the pharmaceutical industry.”
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