BioNEST launches Novice Seri

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, July 12

BioNEST an incubator for life sciences start-ups at Panjab University’s Department of Microbial Biotechnology and funded by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), has launched a new product called “Novice Seri”. The machine breaks down non-biodegradable, hazardous chemical and industrial waste into scientifically priceless ingredients that can be useful in the field of public healthcare.

The machine runs on a single central processing unit, features six bioreactors that break down carbon nitrogen triple bonds using enzymes produced by a microorganism to create industrial or pharmaceutical intermediates.

Shivanshi Vashist (25), a research scholar at the department and brain behind “Novice Seri” said, “You may imagine mandelonitrile, one of the most niggling chemical wastes from textile-manufacturing factories, which is not eco-friendly, and converting it to mandelic acid, which is used in all anti-aging cosmetics, like creams and serums. Now, that’s the story of one bioreactor; we have six of them here. So, you can technically make six different intermediate chemicals or acids at one given time using this machine.”

Shivanshi shares that among 19 different chemicals that can be derived from chemical waste, anti-TB molecule, anti-cancer intermediate and lauric acid (used in soaps and shampoos as cleaning agent) top the list.

About six months ago, Shivanshi bagged BIRAC’S Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) worth Rs 50 lakh, much of which was invested on making “Novice Seri”. Having been selected for BIO (Biotechnology International Organisation) at Boston and Philadelphia, Shivanshi is all set to make it to BIF (Bio Investor Forum), which will be held in San Francisco in October. 

Chairperson of the department, Dr Rohit Sharma said, “We have 16 Incubatees from 3 different verticals, including bio-pharmaceuticals, bio processed technology and food & agriculture, which are being run here and are heavily funded through different funding opportunities. ‘Novice Seri’ will be beneficial for the R&D Industry where multi process parameters are working which will reduce the efforts by 1/6th and also will be cost effective.”

The machine was launched by Prof Raj Kumar, PU Vice-Chancellor.

How the machine works

Novice Seri involves a set of six  bioreactors/fermenters/vessels using the same source of water and air, each process running independent of each other that can be attached in series or discontinuous which are connected to the main control panel with unique and innovative electronic module that can control multiple parameters in multiple bioreactors at the given time. 

Each vessel is connected to the main control panel through a panel board easing out the operations at user level. The key feature of present invention is a specifically designed electronic module which enables independent operation of multiple fermentations/ bio processes with a single control panel through separate panel board for each vessel/ fermenter.