GBB seminar invited speaker:

Prof. Miguel Puertas Mejia

Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia

Sustainable Bioprospecting. Target Compounds,

Mechanisms & Industrial Applications

Miguel Angel Puertas-Mejía, a full professor at the Universidad de Antioquia, leads a research program dedicated to the sustainable bioprospecting of Colombian biodiversity. By combining green chemistry and circular economy principles, our research focuses on the sustainable extraction of high-value compounds using eco-friendly solvents like ethanol and water. Primary goals include re-evaluating industrial wastes, such as spent coffee grounds and fruit seeds, and utilizing marine macroalgae, among other matrices. The program targets mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) for UVA/UVB protection and marine-derived sulfated polysaccharides, particularly fucoidans, for their antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory properties. Using a "mechanism-centered" approach, the study investigates bioactive molecules like caffeic acid derivatives and glycolipids that disrupt multidrug resistance (MDR) in aggressive cancer cells by inhibiting cellular efflux pumps. Novel delivery systems, including nanoemulsions and hybrid biomaterials, have improved the stability of sensitive compounds by more than 90%. These developments enable applications ranging from "Blue Nutricosmetic" prototypes to medical hydrogels for wound healing and bone health. Ultimately, this comprehensive bioprospecting bridge addresses global health and environmental issues by promoting biodiversity through sustainable chemistry.

Thursday, May 28 / 4.15pm / room 5159.0029, Energy Academy