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Bioprocesses
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Anaerobic digestion and mushroom production
Improvement of biogas production processes by, e.g., enzymatic treatment of substrates, and waste management with the aim of biomass / lignocellulose degradation, viscosity reduction, improved substrate turnover, and establishment of circular processes combining biogas and mushroom production. The replacement of peat in mushroom production and the quantification of chitin are under focus as well.
Protein- and carbohydrate based oligo- and biopolymers
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Antimicrobials and Anti-inflammatories
I started my research by investigating the intermediates formed at industrial sugar production, leading to melanoidin polymers (Maillard reaction). Cyclodextrins formed by enzymatic treatment of starch were determined in terms of mycotoxin capture in crops. Collagen from cattle skin was chemically and physically modified to develop anti-inflammatory agents for the oral human cavity. I am inquisitive about the development of anti-fungal proteins / peptides from molluscs, acting on the inner and outer human skin, and antimicrobials on nano- and microscale incl. chitosan that treat microbial pathogens that are protected by mucus gel covering the mucosal epihtelium they infect.
RESEARCH INTERESTS IN BIOANALYTICS AND BIOENGINEERING
Glycoprotein-based biopolymers
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Reproduction
My research also focus on the fascinating human cervical mucus from the female reproduction system. We reinforce mucus by cationic polysaccharides creating a barrier to sperm cells for the development of a non-hormonal contraceptive, a medical device. We also loosening the barrier for improved sperm transport by enzymatic treatment. This includes assay development, volunteer management, and comprehensive biocompatibility studies. We further test human cervical mucus or mimics to select sperm in new developed microfluidic medical devices for assisted reproduction.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
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