Platform for Advancement of Knowledge for Chromatographic and Photocatalytic Technologies for Applications in Health, Energy and Environment

用于健康、能源和环境应用的色谱和光催化技术知识进步平台

• 批准号: RGPIN-2022-03444
• 负责人: RAY, AJAY
• 金额: $ 4.66万
• 依托单位: University of Western Ontario
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=746700
• 关键词: Platform; Advancement; Knowledge; Chromatographic; Photocatalytic

The proposed research program builds on the strengths of past research efforts undertaken by the applicant on process development of chromatographic and photocatalytic technologies. This program explores to advance knowledge and find solutions in two broad research fields: (a) Chromatography: Recombinant therapeutic protein drugs constitute the fastest growing sector of the biopharmaceutical industry both in the amount of product required globally and the number of new drugs undergoing clinical trials. Technological advances in upstream process platform has evolved significantly, both on the cell line production and fed-batch cell culture bioreactor process fronts, leading to tremendous increases in product titers and diverting challenges to downstream process development mainly for separation and purification that comprises 50-70% of total manufacturing costs. Two classes of downstream purification processing of biologics are considered: (i) innovative methods for conversion of inactive and misfolded inclusion body proteins produced during bacterial overexpression into soluble bioactive products and its purification, and (ii) efficient platform for purification of monoclonal antibodies, vaccines and hormones produced in mammalian cells that requires multi-component separation using solvent gradient approach in multi-column continuous chromatography based on simulated moving bed technology. (b) Photocatalysis: Photocatalysis is a promising technology that finds extensive applications in producing hydrogen and detoxification of pollutants. The proposed research will develop transformative natural dye-sensitized solar photocatalysis expertise addressing all challenges impeding its current large-scale development for (i) producing high purity clean and sustainable hydrogen energy that does not emit greenhouse gases bypassing entirely the carbon cycle, and (ii) high-rate treatment of micro-pollutants present in water. Our work is aimed at synthesis of new eco-friendly materials, development of innovative process design, inventing new approaches for process intensification, and optimal operation of such process systems. The motivation of the proposed research program is to generate new knowledge and obtain deep understanding required to develop the next generation of technologies to produce valuable therapeutic protein drugs, new water treatment technologies and energy sources with improved efficiency, process simplicity, and lower costs. The key objectives in the program is to develop an integrated multi-disciplinary research and training program for well-rounded graduates with sound technical, scientific, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills, groomed by rigorous and comprehensive research training. This cutting-edge research program is expected to result in state-of-the-art technology development for applications in tomorrow's energy, environment, health, and water, the most important global challenges faced by humanity for the next few decades.

拟议的研究计划建立在申请人过去在色谱和光催化技术的工艺开发方面所做的研究工作的基础上。该计划探索在两个广泛的研究领域推进知识和找到解决方案：（a）色谱：重组治疗性蛋白质药物构成生物制药行业增长最快的部门，无论是在全球所需的产品数量还是正在进行临床试验的新药数量。上游工艺平台的技术进步在细胞系生产和补料分批细胞培养生物反应器工艺方面都有显著发展，导致产品滴度大幅增加，并将挑战转移到下游工艺开发，主要用于分离和纯化，占总生产成本的50-70%。考虑了两类生物制品的下游纯化工艺：（i）用于将细菌过表达期间产生的无活性和错误折叠的包涵体蛋白转化为可溶性生物活性产物及其纯化的创新方法，和（ii）用于纯化单克隆抗体的有效平台，在哺乳动物细胞中生产的疫苗和激素，需要使用溶剂梯度方法进行多组分分离，基于模拟移动床技术的柱连续色谱。(b)光催化：光催化是一种很有前途的技术，在制氢和污染物解毒方面有着广泛的应用。拟议的研究将开发变革性的天然染料敏化太阳能电池的专业知识，以解决阻碍其目前大规模发展的所有挑战：（i）生产高纯度清洁和可持续的氢能，不排放完全绕过碳循环的温室气体，以及（ii）高速率处理水中存在的微污染物。 我们的工作旨在合成新的环保材料，开发创新的工艺设计，发明新的工艺强化方法，并优化此类工艺系统的运行。拟议研究计划的动机是产生新的知识，并获得开发下一代技术所需的深入理解，以生产有价值的治疗性蛋白质药物，新的水处理技术和能源，提高效率，简化工艺，降低成本。该计划的主要目标是为具有良好的技术，科学，领导力和创业技能的全面毕业生制定综合的多学科研究和培训计划，并通过严格和全面的研究培训进行培训。这项尖端研究计划预计将导致最先进的技术开发，用于未来的能源，环境，健康和水资源，这是人类在未来几十年面临的最重要的全球挑战。