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Seeking Upskilling and Next-Generation Activated Carbon Fiber Technology

• Posted by The Procter & Gamble Company
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• Project Size : 250,000 - 1,000,000 €

BACKGROUND P&G competes across many consumer-packed goods categories where malodor is a top consumer concern. We believe that incorporating volatile organic compound (VOC) adsorption technologies into products could serve our consumers’ needs for odor control. We have evaluated numerous adsorbent technologies and activated carbon fiber (ACF) is of particular interest. NEED DESCRIPTION We are seeking to consult and potentially partner with an expert in activated carbon fiber to understand the impact of precursors, processing conditions, and methods of incorporating ACF into textiles and/or nonwovens on volatile organic compound adsorption performance, durability, and large-scale manufacturability. As a first step, we are interested in the identified SME giving a seminar on the basics of ACF to educate the organization. Longer-term, we are interested in co-developing and testing various ACFs in our in vitro and in vivo methods to link the various parameters of ACFs to their odor control performance. Below are more specific descriptions of the expertise and capabilities we are seeking.

Seeking natural colors for foods and beverages

• Posted by PepsiCo
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• Project Size : 50,000 - 250,000 €

PepsiCo is evaluating different natural color ingredients and technologies to replace Yellow #5, Yellow #6, Red #40, and Blue #1 for multiple food and beverage brands in order to address consumer demand. Specific challenges are in the Red #40 (food) and Blue #1 (food & beverage) replacers.

Seeking Rapid Substance Detection in Inspection and Supply Chain

• Posted by The Procter & Gamble Company
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• Project Size : 250,000 - 1,000,000 €

Procter & Gamble is a global leader in innovation, products and services for consumer goods in categories like Beauty (Hair and Skin Care), Fabric & Home Care, Baby Care, Oral Care, Health Care, Family Care, and Feminine Care. We focus on designing and manufacturing superior products, packages and experiences that are safe to consumers, the environment and supply chain partners. P&G undertakes significant efforts to analyze compositions of raw materials and finished products and packages from development to manufacturing through the supply chain. NEED DESCRIPTION For most substances we lack rapid, easy-to-use yet precise detection devices/ methods for inspections at P&G operations (e.g. material income, manufacturing control, cleaning of equipment) and at our supply chain partners that can be used by workers and do not require laboratory environment/ standards

Soy-Based Corrosion Inhibitor for Ferrous Metals

• Posted by Barry McGraw from Airable Research Lab, business line of Ohio Soybean Council
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• Innovative Products and Technologies

Airable Research Lab has developed a soy-based additive that inhibits corrosion in water-based systems, showing as much as 89% corrosion inhibition in in-house studies. Corrosion inhibitors are necessary across industries, from manufacturing to construction, to protect metal equipment and materials from deteriorating. The Airable product, a bio-based formulation with 54% soy content, targets ferrous metals that can be found in oil-producing wellbores, water systems involving cooling tower evaporators, heating systems, and steam generators.

LIH383: novel modulator of the opioid system regulator ACKR3

• Posted by Luxembourg Institute of Health
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• Patents for licensing

LIH383 is a novel highly potent and specific negative modulator of ACKR3, developed by Dr Andy Chevigné, Head of Immunopharmacology and Interactomics, and Dr Martyna Szpakowska. It is an octapeptide (short chain of eight amino acids) with high selectivity and subnanomolar affinity for ACKR3. It was engineered by introducing a series of mutations to adrenorphin. Compared with other natural opioid ligands, its sequence (FGGFMRRK) confers it maximum specificity and affinity for ACKR3 and minimum selectivity and affinity for other opioid receptors. LIH383 therefore binds to and blocks ACKR3, thereby modulating the availability of opioid peptides that can bind to classical opioid receptors in the brain and potentiating their natural painkilling and antidepressant properties. LIH383 is therefore a positive regulator of the opioid system. In a nutshell, LIH383 presents the following advantages: > Subnanomolar potency > High selectivity for ACKR3 > Short chain (8 amino acids) > Easy to synthesise/customise

Preventing Biofilm Formation by Enzyme Inhibitors

• Posted by Yeda
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• Patents for licensing

Biofilm is a complex colony of bacteria, which are attached together by extracellular polymeric substance. This setting provides the bacteria protection against environmental factors, improves their surface attachment, and plays a major role in resistance to treatment. Therefore, biofilms are difficult to eradicate, much more than single bacterial colonies. Biofilms can form on a variety of surfaces, both living and non-living, and can therefore be found in industrial, hospital, and natural settings. One such example of biofilm formation is Cystic fibrosis patients, who often develop chronic life-threatening infections in their respiratory systems and treatment is made problematic due to said biofilms. The research team of Dr. Kolodkin-Gal managed to disrupt the structure of biofilms and prevent their formation. This was performed by inhibiting enzymes that contribute to the properties of the extracellular matrix. When the extracellular matrix is compromised due to this treatment, the formation of the biofilm is disturbed, and it becomes more susceptible to treatment. This invention can therefore be a powerful tool to control, prevent, and destroy biofilms in a variety of settings.