(2jq) Exploring Protein/Polymer Interactions in Biotechnology Applications
AIChE Annual Meeting
2022
2022 Annual Meeting
Meet the Candidates Poster Sessions
Meet the Faculty and Post-Doc Candidates Poster Session
Sunday, November 13, 2022 - 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Advancement of biotechnology and bioprocesses will impact multiple facets of every day life. Bio-based products will generate improved and more sustainable options for health care, energy, and other industries. However, protein characteristics, transport, and interaction with complex biopolymers introduce numerous challenges to these processes. They are of particular interest due to their ability to be catalysts, drugs, or biomarkers. Harnessing their potential is crucial to developing innovative technologies. Understanding proteinsâ affinity to the environments in which they are used is important to engineer processes and products to maximize the impact of biotechnology. Research on protein/polymer interactions will lead to developing scalable and sustainable screening methods, manufacturing processes, and bioproducts.
Throughout my experience and training in biochemical engineering, I have acquired a wide range of skills in systems biology, biocatalysis, reactor design, bioprocessing and prototyping. Being part of multiple projects that touched on a variety of topics has taught me the value of distinct perspectives. As a faculty member, I will strive to maintain a diverse and multi-disciplinary group that can investigate the multiple facets of biotechnology development. My students and I will employ experimental and computational methods to: (1) explore protein-biomaterial interactions; (2) biomanufacture and modify bioproducts and biomaterials of interest; (3) develop, validate, and translate biotechnological processes.
PhD dissertation: âEnzymatic Inhibition by Lignin during Second Generation Ethanol Productionâ, advised by Michael Ladisch, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University
Postdoctoral Projects:
⢠âAnalytical Modeling of Biomass Transport and Feeding Systemsâ, part of successful grant DE-FOA-0001689 âIntegrated Biorefinery Optimizationâ.
⢠âDevelopment of Improved Delivery of Injectable Medicinesâ
Both under the supervision of Michael Ladisch, Purdue University
Teaching Interests:
My teaching philosophy is based on my experiences working in industry, conducting collaborative research and mentoring students. I aim to help undergraduate and graduate students to (i) understand concepts as they relate to other topic areas, (ii) identify and address the gaps in knowledge they may have, (iii) discover, create and develop new ideas that bridge academics and the real world. My studies in both pharmaceutical sciences and biological engineering give the tools to teach a wide range courses included in chemical and biological engineering curricula. Topics include reaction kinetics, biotechnology, (bio)process engineering, and enzymatic catalysis among others. As part of my doctoral training at Purdue, I had the opportunity to be a teaching assistant for a bioprocess engineering course. I prepared and taught lectures on enzymatic processes and modelling of their activity, in addition to preparing and grading assignments. In the laboratory, I have mentored multiple undergraduate students, guiding them as they develop their own projects. Besides experimental techniques, I have invested in teaching theoretical concepts to foster critical thinking and independence.
Selected Publications:
dos Santos, A.C.F.; Ahmadzadegan, A.; Ximenes, E.; Vlachos, P.; Ardekani, A.; Kapur, S.; Corvari, V.; Ladisch, M.R. In vitro Measurement of Concentration of Unlabeled Protein within a Hyaluronic Acid Matrix. Biotechnology and Bioengineering. 2022. Accepted.
dos Santos, A.C.F.; Ximenes, E.; Thompson, D.; Ray, A.E.; Szeto, R.; Erk, K.; Dien, B.; Ladisch, M.R. Effect Of Using A Nitrogen Atmosphere On Enzyme Hydrolysis At High Corn Stover Loadings In An Agitated Reactor. Biotechnology Progress. 2020, 36(6), e3059. https://doi.org/10.1002/btpr.3059
dos Santos, A.C.F.; Overton, J.C.; Szeto, R.; Patel, M.H.; Gutierrez, D.M.; Eby, C.; Moreno, A.M.M.; Erk, K.A.; Aston, J.E.; Thompson, D.N.; Dooley, J.H.; Sharma, P.; Mosier, N.S.; Ximenes, E.; Ladisch, M.R. New Strategy For Liquefying Corn Stover Pellets. Bioresource Technology, 2021, 341, 125773. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125773