Projects / Programmes
Uporabna biokataliza (Slovene)
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.02.06 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Chemical engineering |
Biochemical engineering |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.04 |
Engineering and Technology |
Chemical engineering
|
Researchers (7)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
31616 |
PhD Maja Čolnik |
Chemical engineering |
Researcher |
2009 - 2012 |
121 |
| 2. |
30945 |
PhD Sabina Kavčič |
Pharmacy |
Junior researcher |
2009 - 2012 |
22 |
| 3. |
25011 |
Marko Krainer |
Chemical engineering |
Technical associate |
2010 - 2012 |
4 |
| 4. |
00534 |
PhD Maja Leitgeb |
Chemical engineering |
Head |
2009 - 2012 |
825 |
| 5. |
25663 |
PhD Muzafera Paljevac |
Chemistry |
Junior researcher |
2009 - 2010 |
127 |
| 6. |
28413 |
PhD Franja Šulek |
Chemical engineering |
Junior researcher |
2009 - 2011 |
55 |
| 7. |
33515 |
PhD Katja Vasić |
Chemical engineering |
Researcher |
2011 - 2012 |
105 |
Organisations (1)
Significance for science
Results of the research, achieved on the project, are very important for the development of research and its special field biocatalysis. Sucessfull application of so called green solvents, such as ionic liquids (ILs) and supercritical fluids (SCFs) as media for enzyme-catalyzed reactions, is essential for the understanding and reasoning of cause and effect connections and also of the impacts of different reaction parameters, which have to be considered in the design and planning of industrial processes. It is well known that in the field of reaearch there is lately much attention given on searching alternative methods for syntheses of different products, especially from the sight of safe and environmentally friendly technologies. Application of the results obtained in the frame of the project enables to perform reactions, which are catalyzed by nature catalysts in non-conventional solvents, such as ILs and SCFs, which may replace flammable and toxic conventional organic solvents, as well as limitation of the influence of dangerous chemicals on the environment. At the same time the research in the world is focused on synthesis of chiral substances on the basis of aforementioned technologies. Results of our research confirmed the use of some ILs for biocatalytical process of chiral substances preparation. Optimal parameters for preparation of some chiral substances in ILs and SC CO2 are known on the basis of our research, as well. Therefore, the results of the project, disseminated in international scientific publications, offer an important contribution to the research in the field of biocat. This fact is confirmed by citation of our scientific papers in the first year after publication and lately, as well. The paper HABULIN, Maja, KNEZ, Željko: Optimization of (R,S)1-phenylethanol kinetic resolution over Candida antarctica lipase B in ionic liquids. J. mol. catal., B Enzym. 2009, 58 (1), 2428 has been cited 29 times in Scopus.
The results of the research in the field of application of nanostructured materials for immobilization of bioactive substances have an immense impact on the scientific development and improvement in the field of nanofabrication of thin structural elements and have a great scientific and industrial importance. There has been a great demand of projecting nanostructures also for clinical purposes, thus, the idea to prepare single magnetic nanoparticels for biomed. applications as potential diagnostic tool is interesting for the progress of science. The opening up of immobilization techniques based on nanotechnol. tools represents an important step forward in practice, both conceptually and scientifically, and promises to yield important new insights into how nanocomposites are assembled, particularly those which are used in the stabilization or immobilization of substances. The availability of miniaturized systems for use in immobilization of bioactive substances will not only catalyze the exploration of immobilized bioactive substances in clinics and ind. biotransformations, but will also provide important new methodologies by which the function and structure of immobilized substances may be studied in more details. Nowadays, the research in nanotechnol. field is supported by several developed countries, including Slovenia, based on a common wish for a rapid development of this science, to which the results of this research would also contribute significantly. Thus, to increase the economy and the technical progress means to follow and contribute professionally towards the development of new technol. of big impact in the field of nanotechnologies. The importance of the results of our project is evident also from citations of our research papers. The article ŠULEK Franja, DROFENIK Mihael, HABULIN Maja, KNEZ Željko: Surface functionalization of silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles for covalent attachment of cholesterol oxidase. J. magn. magn. mater. 2010, 322(2), 179 has been cited 25 times in Scopus.
Significance for the country
Slovenian pharmaceutical and chemical industry could use the results of the project in the sense of human and environmentally friendly way to obtain optically pure components, which represent required components for their market products. Production of chiral or optically pure compounds on the basis of biocatalysis in so called ‘’green solvents’’ instead of using heavy metal catalysts and toxic organic solvents could be realized. Enzymatic reactions are performed in mild reaction conditions and obtained products do not require additional cleaning, which enables simple industrialization of processes for obtaining requested products and reduction of production costs. Slovenian pharmaceutical companies would with the use of the project results have the possibility to optimize expense series of one's own market products, which is in the time of economic depression of principal significance for existence of company on the market. Emissions of dangerous compounds in environment (air, water, earth) could be limited by replacing flammable and toxic conventional organic solvents with ILs and SCF and consecutively, workers working environment will be improved as well. Planning new alternative methods for preparation of optically pure products in unconventional reaction media is aimed also to continual education. Results of the research project may serve also for education of students of chemical engineering, as typical representatives of future evolutional engineers.
In Slovenia the research in nanotechnology is actually following the European investigation trends concerning the generation of nanoparticles with improved and intelligent properties mostly for biomedical purposes. The implementation of nanotechnologies in the Slovenian territory is chiefly orriented towards the construction of novel and well qualified professions in the field of advanced materials, that would with good competence in knowledge compete with other European professionals. The interdisciplinary nature of nanotechnologies has forced many of the Slovenian research institutes and faculties to cooperate jointly in order to improve and integrate the research based on nanotechnologies in Slovenia that is well defended currently. The statistics shows that nanoscience in Slovenia is outstandingly well established resulting in its progressive growth and participation in European research projects regularly. Undoubtedly, the participation of Slovenia in the developmental and scientific sphere of nanotechnology would considerably trigger up important advancements in the field of nanotechnology and technology in general. Nanotechnologies are designated as novel technologies that will open up new exciting opportunities of economy growth in Slovenia with a substantial increase in the formation of strong research groups and spin-off companies. Since small companies usually do not have the power and critical mass to form a sufficient knowledge base and create a scientific network by themselves, a special attention should be dedicated to the development of innovative scientists at the universities that would bring a constant progress to national companies as well as to cooperate jointly with other research centers in Slovenia and Europe. Due to the fact that nanotechnology will revolutionize ours lives significantly in the near future, Slovenian scientific sphere is doing huge investments to fully develop this rapidly growing science as well as to implement it slowly into citizen`s everyday lives. With the development of novel methods to immobilize a bioactive substance we would promote Slovenia and assure that Slovenian companies and professionals are directly implemented in the European and world markets of human resources.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
