Complutense University of Madrid

The Research and Technology Transfer Group in Biotechnology and Applied Materials (TRANSBIOMAT, Ref. 970904), belonging to UCM (Complutense University of Madrid), and led by Profs. A. Heras and Prof. A.R. Alcántara, combines the three functions of the University: Teaching, Research, and Technology Transfer. Its research area is mainly focussed on the production of biopolymerss through biocatalytical, biotechnological and green chemical methods, as well as in their functional characterisation, and ultimately, in their applications in pharmacy, biomedicine, agri-food, and cosmetics.
Specifically, TRANSBIOMAT is focussing on designing hydrophilic systems based on chitosan and chitooligosaccharides for the encapsulation of actives and the development of highly demanded conjugates, which add functionality to products in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical sectors; in this sense, they align efficiently with the philosophy of the Circular Economy. Generally sepaking, TRANSBIOMAT is strongly aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides the so-called 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call to action for all countries to improve human and planetary well-being. From this perspective, the revaluation of agri-food by-products (highly abundant and easily accessible renewable resources) through the implementation of new uses via innovative approaches can lead to a successful paradigm shift towards the desired sustainability.
Thus, TRANSBIOMAT aims to develop more sustainable methodologies for the production of chitosans in accordance with sustainable production recommendations; to modulate their functional properties and biological activities as a result of a deep understanding of the structure of chitosan, and to develop new sophisticated materials based on chitosans, derivatives, and “tailor-made functionalised” materials.