The
Industrial Biotechnology initiative of
Reliance Life Sciences encompasses:
- Biopolymers
- Biochemicals
- Enzymology
Reliance Life Sciences is involved in
bioprocess innovation and development
from process inception to industrial level
production of Biopolymers, Biofuels and
Biochemicals, employing microbial, plant,
animal cells and cellular metabolites.
Biopolymers
Poly Lactic Acid (PLA)
Reliance Life Sciences has developed
a complete process for production of Poly
Lactic Acid (PLA) from renewable feedstocks
by bacterial fermentation. Reliance Life
Sciences has scaled up the process by
a factor of 1,000.
Reliance Life Sciences is also developing
co-polymers - (of Lactic and Glycolic
Acid - PolyLactic-co-Glycolic Acid or
PLGA) - of varying ratios and other biodegradable
polymers including Polyvinylcaprolactums,
Polyurethanes for biomedical applications.
Reliance Life Sciences is also developing
drug-delivery systems based on nanotechnology
using PLA/PLGA for generic drugs as well
as therapeutic proteins. Other application
that is being pursued involves preparation
of fibres of PLA/PLGA/PGA by wet/melt
spinning for sutures, scaffolds etc
Hyaluronic acid
Reliance Life Sciences has developed
a process for obtaining highly pure, medical
grade Hyaluronic acid by bacterial fermentation.
Hyaluronic acid, a biopolymer with high
demand in cosmetics and biomedical industries,
is also used as a lubricant for osteoarthritis
and visco-elastic surgery for removing
wrinkles, and in other cosmetic surgeries.
1, 3-Propane-diol
Reliance Life Sciences has developed
a process for the production of 1,3 propane-diol
by bacterial fermentation. 1,3 propanediol
is used as a monomer for producing biodegradable
polyesters, polyethers and polyurethanes.
The bio-based propanediol has been successfully
converted to fibre grade third generation
polymer, polytrimethylene terepthalate.
Biochemicals
Reliance Life Sciences is developing
a range of biochemicals from fermentation
processes for medical and nutraceutical
applications.
Enzymology
Reliance Life Sciences is pursuing research
programs in Enzymology in the following
areas:
- Industrial Enzymes for Biofuels
- Therapeutic Enzymes
Reliance Life Sciences is focusing on production
of low-cost, specific and efficient enzymes.
Technology innovation is centred on molecular
modelling guided enzyme engineering with
the objective of obtaining hyper-catalytic
enzymes with high specificity. This integrated
strategy helps isolate and / or engineer
enzymes for very high catalysis.
Reliance Life Sciences is exploring biocatalysts
with special properties through screening
and innovative technologies to develop industrial
processes and products.
Industrial Enzymes for
Biofuels
Under
the Industrial Enzymes program, Reliance
Life Sciences is involved in production
of biomass degrading enzymes such as Glucoamylase,
Cellulase, Hemicellulase and other enzymes
such as Lipase, Glucose isomerase etc.
Reliance Life Sciences has developed
enzyme-based processes for bioethanol
production from biomass and is actively
engaged in enzyme based technology development
for biobutanol production from biomass.
Therapeutic Enzymes
Under the Therapeutic enzymes program,
Reliance Life Sciences is involved in
developing process for production of enzymes
like Staphylokinase, Glucocerebrosidase,
etc.
