Desarrollo de nuevos ingredientes a partir de microalgas mediante técnicas de extracción, fraccionamiento y deshidratación. Implementación analítica.

My current project is 'Technologies for the enrichment and recovery of novel bioactive ingredients from plant food processing wastes.'

Department of Chemical EngineeringThe PhD thesis showed a proposal of valorization of the invasive brown alga S. muticum including several processes to obtain and purify bioactive compounds and some of their applications. Extraction and fractionation steps were tested and optimized, the obtained fractions and compounds were characterized and their potential as cosmetic and pharmaceutical ingredients were determined. The utilized processes and the obtained streams were integrated and connected under the biorefinery concept, to minimize the waste production, maximize sub-products advantage and increase the yield of high-added value products. In addition, the collaboration with other research centers by short-term research stays or work collaboration, a compound was isolated and its structure was elucidated. The obtained compound, extracts and fractions were tested in vitro for photodamage attenuation capacity in UVA irradiated dermal cells, for anti-tumoral capacity in cancer cells, and as antioxidant agents in cosmetics formulations stability assays. There are some works describing the use of different components of the algal biomass and, probably, there are still new applications to discover in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Several studies are needed to complete and make progresses on this proposal of S. muticum valorization.The PhD thesis was granted by the extinct Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (MEC) of Spain by a FPI grant.

Study of the antitumoral activity of algal extracts obtained by an optimized pressurized liquid extraction process and purificated by solid phase extraction on colon cancer cell lines.

LASEFI - Lab. Tecnologia Supercrítica: Extração, Fracionamento e Identificação de extratos vegetais.Optimization of the extraction process by supercritical carbon dioxide of Brazilian fruits waste (seeds, peel) and study of its cost analysis.

MBRC-Marine Bioprocess Research CenterPurification of active fractions and compounds from brown algal extracts by open column chromatography, TLC, PTLC and HPLC. Determination of cytotoxicity and photodamage protection on UVA irradiated human fibroblasts of fractions and compounds on cell culture tests. In vitro biochemical determination. Elucidation of pure compounds by NMR and MS spectra analysis.

•Laboratory of dairy products - Department of Animal production - Sample management, culture media preparation, lab material washing and sterilization- Optimization of spectrophotometric tests to determine the bacterial cholesterol assimilation - GC/MS-FID•Research group of meat quality - Sample preparation by dissection of muscle 'Longisimus dorsi' and others- pH determination by penetration- Colorimetric/spectrophotometric methods for heminic pigment determination- Water retention evaluation (drip, cooking, freeze)- Texture evaluation- Extraction and methylation analysis of fatty acids

- Sous-vide cooking- Texture evaluation

- Texture evaluation on bread dough processed by High Pressure Processing

- Sample management, culture media preparation, lab material washing and sterilizationFood security - Determination of mesophilic aerobic micro-organisms at 37 ºC (plate count method, automated food pathogen detection system (VIDAS), Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay-ELFA technology) of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, sulfate-reducing bacteria, Clostridium perfringens, fungi and yeasts as quality parameters assessment on food safety in feed, meat, eggs or derived products samples Sanitary control- Serological monitoring by ELISA - Disinfection control by total counting of bacterial flora- Control of Salmonella in faeces (ISO 6579:2003)- Oocyst counting in faeces by flotation methodAutopsy - Sampling- Microorganism isolation and identification by API test kits- Antibiograms