Fermentation processes for the production of pharmaceuticals involve the production of molecules with promise as potential pharmaceuticals, as well as other molecules that are already on the market but whose international patents are expiring. The advantages, compared to processes of extraction or chemical synthesis are the low production costs, the high levels of production specificity and yield, the low environmental impact and the relatively elevated conditions of security.

The artificial kidney for studies of hepatotoxicity carried out with human hepatocytes is a useful instrument for the testing of pharmaceutical products, seeing that many pharmaceuticals can interfere with human kidney function, with this constituting one of the reasons that products are not approved as pharmaceuticals or, in some cases, are even withdrawn from the market. The product is of great interest to pharmaceutical companies, which can use it to obtain more reliable results.

Flow system for the synthesis of nucleotides and peptides: This device, developed and tested in the laboratory, offers both technical and economic advantages over the more widely used batch synthesisers. Compared to the batch approach, the flow system offers greater control of the synthesis parameters, savings on the solvents used, greater versatility and end products of greater purity. Target users include companies that synthesise “custom-made” oligonucleotides, as well as those that develop systems for the synthesis of peptides/oligonucleotides.

Biotechnologies for the treatment of industrial liquid waste and waters contaminated by industrial colouring agents are based on different types of white-rot fungus. The micro-organisms and the enzymes developed by the Regional Competence Centre could carry out unique, innovative tasks of bio-remediation, supplementing the established water-treatment technologies of companies. The Centre also produces energy from biomasses, with Bioteknet contributing to the development of this activity through the production of more effective micro-organisms.

Electrochemical and fluorescent biosensors: sensors are developed for toxicological and environmental control, capable of recognising molecules not marked in advance. The “core” technology consists of taking advantage of the processes of electronic transfer in “miniaturised electronic transfer proteins”. In the case of the fluorescent biosensors, the active molecules are “sugar-binding” enzymes or proteins isolated from thermopholic organisms.

The Regional Competence Centre BioTekNet comprises: 10 Departments of 3 Universities: Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli (Leading Organisation), Università degli Studi Federico II, Università degli Studi del Sannio, 2 Institutes of the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche: Istituto di Biochimica delle Proteine, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, 2 Hospital Research Centres: Azienda Ospedaliera Antonio Cardarelli, Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori G. Pascale, 2 Science and Technology Parks: Consorzio Technapoli, Parco Scientifico e Tecnologico di Salerno e Aree Interne della Campania ScpA.

The technico-scientific competences are organized in 5 Area Departments:

DT 1 – Bioinformatics, Biomathematics and Modelling
DT 2 – Proteomics and Structural and Functional Genomics
DT 3 – Biosensors, Micro-arrays and Biochips
DT 4 – Metabolic Engineering and Biomass Production Processes
DT 5 – Industrial Enzymology, Bioreactors and Bioprocesses

BioTekNet’s offer includes:

a) research in cooperation with businesses, either in the field of pre-competitive industrial research and development, in partnership with businesses, using public funds, or in applied research activities which are not publicly funded, in which BioTekNet “invests” as a business;

b) research on behalf of third-parties, in which BioTekNet acts as a consultant, and is charged with the commissioning of research, and may, if required, act as financial consultant for the project;

c) technico-scientific services and consultancies.

National and international companies, both public and private, research centres and universities that operate in the pharmaceutical, biochemical or biomedical sectors or which carry out industrial work related to biotechnicological applications.

Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR), ENEA (National Body for New Technology, Energy and Environment), BIO & GEO Srl, BIOSISTEMA S.c.a.r.l.