Grant: Alliance Grants

The main objective of this partnership between the Departments of Biotechnology (Professor Julio Santos), Chemical Engineering (Professor Amilton M. Santos) of the University of São Paulo, Brazil, , Mechanical Engineering of Ecole de Technologie Supérieure de Montréal, ÉTS (Professor Nicole Demarquette) and the Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal and also ÉTS (Professor Sophie Lerouge) is to develop biomedical applications of Pullulan, a microbial biopolymer. The project will involve two professors from Brazil and two professors from Canada. It will also involve 2 Ph.D. and one M. Eng students. Furthermore, a Master student and one undergraduate student (scientific initiation) working in the laboratory of Pr. dos Santos will be also working on the project.The project will entail the development of three applications:- Application 1: Pullulan will be evaluated for its potential to encapsulate drugs employed in fighting acute viral lung diseases. Micro or nanospheres of pullulan which could be used in a spray for inhalation purposes will be produced. - Application 2: Pullulan, in the form of nonwoven membranes, will be evaluated with regards to its potential for encapsulation of drugs for the treatment of burns.- Application 3: Pullulan will be used to obtain hydrogels and further 3D printed (bioprinted).This project will enable activities in the biomedical field using new biotechnological technologies and natural resources.