Microbiology
The microbiology division has a functional Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBSC) working under the purview of RCGM, Department of Biotechnology, GOI, since 2004, to take care of Biosafety regulations. This allows us to work with GMOs under the rDNA guidelines of 1990 under the aegis of IBSC and RCGM. The R&D lab is recognized by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Government of India.
Areas of expertise
Our skill set is diverse and covers:-
- Handling of yeast, bacteria and fungal cultures of biosafety level 1 and whole cell biotransformation of both yeast and bacteria
- Whole cell / enzyme immobilization
- Immobilization of recombinant enzymes for the purpose of bio catalysis
- Handling fungal cultures, optimization of metabolite production
- Downstream processing approaches like chromatography (adsorption, ion exchange, gel filtration), counter current extraction
- Lab scale bio-digester
- Integration of biosynthetic steps in the production of chiral molecules
- Solid state fermentation, solid-liquid cultivation of fungi for metabolite production
- In vitro studies, enzyme kinetic studies with lipases, dehydrogenases and decarboxylases.
- Screening exercises for Pichia strains that can grow in the presence of unconventional carbon sources.
- Optimization of commercial feed stock
- Bioprocess optimization, manipulating the metabolism of the organism to give maximum biotransformation.
- DNA isolation, transformation to produce non therapeutic recombinant proteins.
Lab facilities:
The laboratory is well equipped to carry out our research efficiently and safely. Biotech lab can handle Biosafety level – 2 organisms. Some of the infrastructure available are:-
- Class 10,000 clean room facility
- Laminar flow work bench, Biosafety hood
- An assortment of shakers and incubators of various capacities
- Sartorius fermenters of various volumes
- An assortment of centrifuges
- Cross flow unit MF/NF/UF/RO
- Ultra-low freezer (-80°C) for cryopreservation
- Deep freezers as low as -40°C
- Cold room for storage of temperature sensitive material
- Rotatory vacuum evaporators (lab and pilot scale)
- Zeiss Phase contrast microscope with photo documentation facility
- UV Visible Spectrophotometers
- Laboratory model Lyophilizer (SP scientific)
- Ultra Sonicator
- Molecular biology instruments (Electrophoresis units, PCR Thermal cycler, Gel Imaging system, rocker etc.) in a separate lab.
Synthetic / Organic Chemistry
Facilities available
Our skill set is diverse and covers:-
- Spacious lab with nine fume chambers, workspace sufficient for ~20 scientists.
- Standard lab equipment like lab stirrers, magnetic stirrers, water baths, rotary evaporators, high vacuum pumps, lab ovens, vacuum oven etc.
- Ultra-low temp (-90°C) circulating chiller
- Flash chromatography unit
- High-pressure hydrogenation vessels (1L, 2L, 10L); working pressure ~10 kg/cm2.
- Synthetic wing supported by Analytical Development wing
Core Competencies
- Process development
- Cost-effective and non-infringing routes to existing molecules
- Synthesis of chiral compounds
- Continuous improvement in existing processes
Organic Reaction Capabilities
- Catalytic hydrogenation.
- Condensation.
- Grignard Reaction
- Friedel-Crafts Reaction.
- Chlorination
- Bromination
- Nitration
- Diazotization
- Reformatsky Reaction
- Oximation
- Cyanation
- Nitrosation
- Metal Hydride reduction
- Oxidation
- Alkylation
- Esterification
Hazardous Chemical Handling Capability
- Sodium Hydride
- Sodium Amide
- Sodium Cyanide
- Thionyl Chloride
- Bromine
- Ethyl chloroformate
- Monochloroacetone
- Raney Nickel
- Palladium on charcoal catalyst
- Sodium borohydride
- Platinum catalysts
Analytical Development
Facilities available
Our skill set is diverse and covers:-
- Gas Chromatographs
- FTIR Spectrophotometer
- UV-Vis Spectrophotometer
- Auto-titrator-KF
- HPLC
- UPLC
- Digital Polarimeter
- pH meter, Melting point apparatus etc.
Pilot
Scale up of R&D processes to commercial scale requires planning, optimization, troubleshooting and hard work. A systematic approach is critical to achieve commercially successful industrial processes. We have an excellent pilot lab facility to enable transition from shake flask to fermenter scales of 20L, 50L, 150L, 500L, 1000L, 2000L and 4000L; complete with accessory dosing tanks, analysers, sensors- inline/offline, temperature control systems and other essential utilities.
Biotech Pilot plant facilities:
- Biotech pilot plant has three separate cleanroom for seed culture (Class 10000), fermentation (Class 100000) and downstream processing (Class 10000) areas.
- Upstream fermentation facility for Scale up studies up to 4 KL.
- Various size of fermenters 1 KL, 2 KL and 4 KL, along with necessary feed tanks and seed vessels.
- Fermenters are fully automatic, attached with DO, Redox, pH, Optical Density, Temperature and exhaust gas analyzers.
- Downstream facility includes, continuous disc stack centrifuge, tubular centrifuge, counter current extractor etc.
Synthetic pilot plant facilities:
- SS Reactor 250L & 500L
- Glass lined reactor 250L & 500L
- Glass assemblies of 20L to 100L
- SS Centrifuge & SS Nutsche Fliter
