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Project title

Fungal biofilm as a novel biocatalyst for production of important pharmaceutical compounds

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

University College Dublin (UCD)

Lead Applicant

Cormac Murphy

Project Abstract

Biocatalysis is being increasingly incorporated into the production of commodity and fine chemicals as the environmental issues resulting from classical chemical synthesis are avoided. In this proposal the application of a fungal biofilm in biocatalysis will be examined. Biofilms are often considered problematic owing to their roles in infections and biofouling; however, the characteristics that make biofilms challenging to control, such as stability and resistance to antibiotics, are useful when biofilms are applied as biocatalysts. In the PI�s laboratory the growth of the zygomycete fungus Cunninghamella elegans as a biofilm has recently been observed, which has so far not been reported. Furthermore, this fungus is known to transform a broad spectrum of xenobiotic compounds, and it has been shown that the biofilm can transform the anti-inflammatory drug flurbiprofen yielding the human metabolite 4�-hydroxyflurbiprofen. The current proposal is aimed at investigating the biofilm characteristics and optimisation of the biocatalyst so that it can be applied to the continuous production of important pharmaceutical compounds. The project is multi-disciplinary involving microbiology, chemical engineering and chemistry, and will be conducted in collaboration with Brock Fine Chemicals, a company that manufactures halogenated compounds for chemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications.

Grant Approved

�73,440.00

Research Hub

Green and Circular Economy

Research Theme

Waste and Resources Management

Start Date

20/05/2013

Initial Projected Completion Date

20/05/2016