Since in recent years we have become more aware of environmental and health issues, science is constantly looking for new effective methods to use natural and bio-based products in the biomedical, cosmetic, and packaging sectors. The leader of NATBIOMED research team, Prof. Alina Sionkowska, has a huge experience in research work with natural materials like collagen, chitosan, cellulose, etc. The collaboration with scientists from other fields, like bioengineers, medical doctors, biologists is a strong core of the NATBIOMED research team. Together, they use natural resources, imitate nature to design and produce new materials for healthcare.
There are numerous examples of food waste used in today’s industry. The most popular example is chitosan. It’s obtained from chitin, which is the main component of the shells of mussels and other crustaceans. The next example is collagen obtained from fish skin. They both can be used as cosmetic ingredients and in biomaterial fabrication. There are more nonobvious examples, such as coffee dregs, potato peels, grain straws, cereal husks, feathers and waste from the poultry industry containing many valuable compounds. Another waste, very abundant especially in autumn, is leaves. They are very rich in biopolymers and other compounds. Recent results indicated that the most commonly discarded food categories in households were bread, vegetables and fruit. They also contain valuable compounds.
The NATBIOMED research team works on the process of converting mentioned raw materials to the final product, such as a bandage or cream. The process is complex and requires specialized knowledge from many fields like medicine and chemistry. It is about selection, extraction, purification and characterization of raw materials. Then, the material fabrication comes. In this stage, the NATBIOMED team deals with solution casting, freeze-drying, electrospinning, 3D printing, hydrogel preparation, and creation of cosmetic formulas. The last stage is characterization of fabricated materials. Here, depending on the type of produced materials, it looks different. For bandages it is a set of in vitro biological studies, for cosmetics – microbiological assessment, formula stability tests, etc.
The NATBIOMED project deals with the issue of nanoplastics and drug residues in the environment, which is a large problem of the 21st century. As Prof. Alina Sionkowska explains:
Science can reduce the problem in several ways. In our project, we will try to replace polymers with biopolymers, which are fully biodegradable. We will use several modifications for natural polymers to make them less hydrophilic with more appropriate mechanical properties. Microplastics come from abrasive microbeads to invisible polymer texturizers used in both rinse-off and leave-on products in cosmetics. We will try to replace them with modified biopolymers. To reduce the drug residues, we will fabricate new materials based on polymers and nanoparticles for environmentally friendly remediation of industrial wastewater. — Prof. Sionkowska
Thanks to research projects like NATBIOMED, it is more likely to see more sustainable products in the market of the future. Next, it is expected to improve regulations regarding the environment protection and waste selection.
I would love to see that human health and the environment exist in a deeply restorative balance, with a lot of green trees around us. I would like society to enjoy a good quality of life, good health and long life. If NATBIOMED can put only one break in this complex structure, I will be more than happy. — Prof. Sionkowska
