Research

Laboratory starts at the National University of Quilmes (UNQ) in 1999, when Dr. Mariano Grasselli establishes as researcher of CONICET. Initially it was called Bioprocess Laboratory and since 2004 changed to its present name and is formalized by the University in 2010. A year later is incorporated into IMBICE.

One of the objectives we propose is the design, synthesis and study of polymeric materials and their interaction with biological substances from living organisms to proteins to develop novel technological applications. Our particular interest is the application of polymers in the area of bioprocesses: fermentation, biocatalysis and recovery and purification of biological products.

Polymers and their applications

The polymers are highly complex macromolecular structures, both physically and chemically. Their existence in nature allows to achieve the generation of microscopic structures essential for the development of higher organisms. Over the years 1930-1940, with the development of chemical industry, is achieved the first synthetic polymers. These polymers have physical properties (mechanical, thermal, electrical, etc.) similar to the natural polymers; however, have the advantage from the standpoint of presenting a greater chemical and structural variety, this structure can be selected depending on the physical properties.

One reason why the development of polymers has grown exponentially is its low cost in industrial production, which is very competitive for various applications in the field of industry and everyday life. In many cases, especially in biological applications, synthetic polymers meet the required physical and chemical properties, however in the development of more sophisticated ones the interface with biological systems becomes a limiting factor. We propose to modify and study hybrid materials based on these two fundamental components.

LaMaBio has experience in the use of high energy radiation on polymers, such as irradiation by gamma rays, accelerated electrons or heavy ions accelerated. This technology has particular properties that can not be replaced by other methods of modification as UV radiation, ozone, plasma discharge or corona, among others. This research is a multidisciplinary work to develop new biotechnological applications of polymers in the field of health, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and food, based on the combination of polymeric materials with biological substances and / or cells and tissues.


Currently, our laboratory has three main lines: