The European Patent Office (EPO) has granted a European patent for an invention developed by researchers from the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG and MUG. The patent relates to a new reagent used in the process of freeze-drying microorganisms. The invention was previously protected by a Polish patent granted by the Polish Patent Office - now the protection will also extend to other European countries.

The inventors are: prof. dr hab. Robert Czajkowski, dr hab. Dorota Krzyżanowska, dr Tomasz Maciąg, dr Joanna Siwińska, and prof. dr hab. Sylwia Jafra.

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Challenges associated with freeze-drying

An increasing number of products used in medicine, agriculture and the food industry contain live microorganisms. For these preparations to retain their efficacy, the microorganisms must remain alive for many months - from the moment of production right through to their use.

One method of long-term storage for beneficial bacteria is freeze-drying. Thanks to this process, preparations can be stored and transported in powder form. The problem, however, is that many bacterial cells do not survive the freezing and drying process, which reduces the effectiveness of the finished product.

Fewer losses, greater effectiveness

To prevent this, substances are used to protect the microorganisms during freeze-drying. Scientists at the University of Gdańsk have developed just such a reagent. Studies have shown that, for most of the bacterial strains analysed, the use of this substance significantly increased their survival rate compared with freeze-drying carried out without the addition of a protective agent. An additional advantage of the reagent is the absence of animal-derived ingredients, which are used in similar products. As a result, this solution may be both cheaper and more ethical.

The reagent can be used in the freeze-drying of bacteria employed, amongst other things, in the production of preparations for agricultural use and starter cultures for biotechnological processes - wherever the long-term storage of live microorganisms is of key importance.

‘The European Patent Office’s decision confirms the high standard of biotechnology research and innovation carried out at the University of Gdańsk,’ comments Katarzyna Gronowska, director of the Technology Transfer Centre, which is responsible for protecting the intellectual property rights of inventions developed at the University of Gdańsk. ‘This is the second European patent to be awarded to researchers from Professor Czajkowski’s team, and the fourth patent in total - including those granted by the Polish Patent Office,’ she emphasises.

The patents awarded are the result of the NCBR LIDER VI project (LIDER/450/L-6/14/NCBR/2015), led by prof. dr hab. Robert Czajkowski.