This course aims at providing students with the tools and knowledge necessary to analyze and develop a research project in the biocatalysis sector. As a result, students are expected to be able to critically comprehend and discuss a biocatalytic process reported in literature as well as to propose original ideas and new solutions for the obtainment of a bioactive molecule/intermediate by a biocatalytic approach. The lab training will provide students with the basics for setting-up and monitoring a simple enzymatic reaction.
Prerequisiti
This course is intended for students who have achieved the final stage of their education programme and are thus ready to apply the theoretical knowledge acquired to date to the development of autonomous and original ideas for the proposal/optimization of industrial projects concerning biotechnological processes/products. To attend this course, a good knowledge of organic chemistry and biochemistry is required.
Metodi didattici
Lectures (CFU 5) will be supported by slides. Seminars of experts from both University/research centres and chemical companies will be also given. Case-studies from scientific literature will be presented and discussed. Lab training (CFU 1). Students are required to record the experimental activities carried out during the lab training in a personal lab notebook, according to the template provided. Students will use the data recorded in the lab for the preparation of the final report. Lab attendance is mandatory (roll call).
Verifica Apprendimento
Students will be examined by an oral exam aimed at verifying the achievement of the educational goals laid out. Correctness of contents, completeness of answers, property of language, and knowledge of technical terminology will be assessed. Depending on the class size, the exam might be based on team working activities. In this case, the individual evaluation will be integrated with the evaluation of the overall work of the team. This option will be presented at the beginning of the course. The exam will be passed if students achieve a grade in the 18-30 cum laude range.
Testi
Slides used during lectures can be downloaded from the Kiro website. Videos and scientific papers will also be available in Kiro. Communications/notices to the students will be uploaded in Kiro, too. Reference books: K. Faber. “Biotransformations in Organic Chemistry – A textbook”, Springer Ed., 2018 E. Abdelraheem, M. Damian, F. G. Mutti “Biocatalytic Amine Synthesis”, Elsevier Ed., 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-32-390644-9.00086-X AA.VV. “Biocatalysis for Practitioners. Techniques, Reactions and Applications”, Wiley-VCH, 2021
Contenuti
This course aims at providing students with the knowledge about the application of enzymes in the synthesis of bioactive molecules. Specifically, industrial cases of process development for the synthesis of APIs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) by biocatalysis will be presented. Advantages and disadvantages of using isolated enzymes as biocatalysts in organic chemistry will be discussed, with a focus on the most used enzymes in industry (hydrolases, transferases, oxidoreductases). The pipeline of the development of a biocatalytic process will cover the selection of the enzyme, the “transformation” of the selected enzyme into a biocatalyst active and stable under the operative conditions dictated by the specific industrial process, the enzymatic reaction set-up, the scale-up of the biotransformation, and the product downstream.