Scotland-based Ingenza, an engineer of biological systems, is partnering with with Denmark-based Cellugy, a fermentation expert, to explore the potential of biofabricated cellulose in personal care products.
In nature, cellulose can be found in the cell walls of green plants, some algae and fungus-like oomycetes.
Bacterially produced cellulose produced at scale reportedly has the potential to replace fossil-based petrochemicals in consumer products, the firms argue.
Under the agreement, intended to "accelerate the understanding and optimization of bacterial cellulose production," Cellugy will leverage Ingenza's knowledge of diverse microorganisms to "identify key factors influencing the cellulose production pathway."
This will reportedly allow Cellugy to improve cellulose yield and productivity for commercial viability.
“We are thrilled to join forces with Cellugy to explore strategies for improving bacterial cellulose production," says Cristina Serrano, senior scientist at Ingenza. "From a scientist’s perspective, this project is an exciting opportunity to work with a new organism, which will in turn help us to showcase Ingenza’s capabilities and expand our ever-increasing technical knowledge.”
“This partnership with Ingenza perfectly aligns with our commitment to driving sustainability in biotechnology," says Deby Fapyane, cofounder and chief scientific officer at Cellugy. "By combining the expertise of both companies, we aim to accelerate the development of the next generation of bio-solutions for sustainable ingredients for the personal care market.”
