HDR_Fernandes 4dec2020

Soutenance HDR - Susana FernandesVendredi 4 décembre 2020 à 14h - en visio

HABILITATION A DIRIGER LA RECHERCHE

Susana FERNADES (IPREM)

Title: " Natural Polymers - From the bioresources to bio-inspired and functional (bio)materials ”

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Abstract

Bio-based materials are playing a key role in the frame of bioeconomy. Indeed, they could replace fossil-based materials and make a positive contribution to the mitigation of climate change and the sustainable use of natural resources. In the future, bio-based materials will be influenced by natural biodiversity. Living organisms are a rich source of natural compounds with unique physico-chemical, structural and biological properties of high potential for sustainable (bio)materials. This requires a better understanding of the natural polymers properties and of how the structure and functionality of the bio-based materials interrelate. 

I have devoted the last 10 years of my research career to these topics in different recognized academic laboratories and R&D centers in Europe namely Portugal, France, Spain and Sweden. In general, I have been working on polymeric materials from renewable resources, and in particular, on the (1) development of methodologies for the production of (nano)biopolymers like the biosynthesis of bacterial cellulose and the extraction/isolation of cellulose and chitin nanofillers; on the (2) functionalization of biopolymers (chemical and physical) with targeted biological properties (antimicrobial properties and UV-absorbing activity); and on the (3) (bio)materials processing namely membranes, films, nanocomposites and 3D porous scaffolds for packaging, cosmetic and biomedical applications.

Today, and for the short run and intermediate term, my research is focused on the development of bio-inspired and sustainable (bio)materials to reduce the impact on the marine environment. To do so, I am following a scientific approach based on the valorization of the marine molecules and materials and on marine ‘biomimetics’, to face societal issues related to human health and degradation of the marine environment. While my work participates to fundamental research in this field, I also develop biomaterials and bionanocomposites with the potential to be applied to clinical and industrial sectors in the near future. For this, I am working in 4 main research lines: (1) development of eco-friendly extraction techniques to purify marine biomolecules and biopolymers; (2) “green” methodologies to transform those biomolecules as porous structures, films, hydrogels and composites for diverse cosmetic, biomedical and packing applications; and, to close the loop, the study of the impact of these (bio)materials and their decomposition products on (3) the health of humans and (4) marine ecosystems.

Les membres de jury: