PeptiProtect

INNVA1/2024/114

The main objective of the project is to improve the safety of health personnel against exposure to pathogens, through the development of plastic and textile materials for medical, hospital and dental use, biofunctionalized with the antimicrobial peptide TcPaSK of natural origin that gives them bactericidal and fungicidal capacity."

To achieve the objective of the project, we set the following specific objectives:

1. Development of an optimized process for the production of the bioactive molecule (antimicrobial peptide TcPaSK).

The synthesis of the antimicrobial peptide will be addressed through an eco-sustainable and scalable biotechnological approach that will allow large quantities of peptide to be obtained at low cost.

The biocidal capacity of the biofunctionalized materials will be confirmed by analyzing their activity against the microorganisms Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans.

2. Obtaining biofunctionalized materials with the TcPaSK peptide.

The biofunctionalisation of the materials will include: the study of the compatibility of the TcPaSK peptide with plastic and textile materials used in the healthcare field; the selection of the optimal peptide application technology; the study of the possibility of encapsulation of the peptide to extend its shelf life; and the viability of the consequent materials obtained.

The biofunctionalized materials that are intended to be developed initially are: plastic film for the protection of touch monitors and other medical equipment, as well as flexible films to protect keyboards, mice, etc.; wipes for disinfection of face shields or non-replaceable contact surfaces (e.g. handles, cables, tubes, etc.) and drapes for surgical material in high-risk environments due to aerosol generation.

3. Evaluation of the antimicrobial properties of biofunctionalized materials with the TcPaSK peptide.

We will analyze the preventive efficacy of bioactive materials against a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms frequently present in medical and hospital environments.

antimicrobial peptides, plastic materials, biofunctionalized textiles, microbial pathogens, nosocomial diseases , healthcare personnel

Departamento de Genética 

Facultad de Biología

C/ Doctor Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot

biomoluv@uv.es

• GVA - AVI - Valorisation and transfer of research results to companies