New spinout company at the University of York develops next generation of solvents
Posted on 28 April 2005
Bioniqs Ltd has been established by CNAP at the University of York with support from its commercialization partners Amaethon and IP2IPO.
The company has resulted from research by Professor Neil Bruce and Dr Adam Walker and is based around novel ionic liquids -- salts that are molten at room temperature --which can be specifically tailored for biochemical systems.
Ionic liquids have recently attracted attention, because of their high solvation capacities for inorganic, organic and polymeric materials – certain ionic liquids can dissolve DNA, cellulose and even coal and rocks while still being compatible with glass, metal or plastic containers.
The next generation of ionic liquids, being designed and manufactured by Bioniqs, incorporate hydromimetic (water-like) properties, permitting proteins, such as enzymes, to function in the near absence of water, offering a wider range of biocatalytic processes to the manufacturing industry (chemical, pharmaceutical, paper & textile).
They also have the considerable advantages of being non-toxic, non-flammable and biodegradable. As well as their chemical utility, these new ionic liquids also provide realistic alternatives to molecular organic solvents for numerous industrial applications, including solvent extraction, lubrication, hydraulic fluids and sensor technologies where their superior properties and benign characteristics are desirable.
Professor Neil Bruce said: “We have demonstrated that ionic liquids can be specifically designed to permit biological systems to work in the near absence of water. This biocompatibility endows ionic liquids with a wide variety of applications in the biotechnological and biomedical arenas.”
Dr Adam Walker said: “We have developed our core technology around new classes of ionic liquids, which offer real advantages over other solvents – in practice as well as in theory. The enormous flexibility of these materials allows them to be optimized individually for specific applications, facilitating major improvements over existing media.”
Notes to editors:
For further information contact:
- CNAP /Bioniqs, Prof. Neil Bruce, (ncb5@york.ac.uk), Tel: 01904 328777
- IP2IPO / Amaethon Stephen Brooke, (Stephen.Brooke@ip2ipo.com), Tel: 0207 0671663
- University of York Hilary Layton, University of York Press Office (01904 432029)
- CNAP was established through a benefaction from the Garfield Weston Foundation and funding from UK Government. • The research centre is located in the new £22 million bioscience development, occupying 2000m2 of laboratories and facilities. • Five Research Chairs and their groups, together with independently funded Research Fellows and PhD students, undertake gene discovery research in plant science and microbiology funded by UK Research Councils and international organisations. • The research centre undertakes projects at the interface of curiosity-driven and target-led research as well as developing programmes in public awareness of science and international alliances. • For further information on CNAP see www.CNAP.org.uk
- The University of York is a dynamic and highly successful organisation, recognised internationally for its excellence in teaching and research. Named 'University of the Year' by the Sunday Times in September 2003, it has the highest average teaching score amongst UK universities and is ranked 6th for the quality of its research. Its continued success, including rapid expansion in research and spin-out activities, has led to ambitious plans for major expansion to the east of its main campus in south-east York.
- Amaethon, the UK based intellectual property business, was established in 2003 as an innovative partnership between the University of York and IP2IPO Group plc and was created to commercialise the research of CNAP, the flagship plant and microbial gene discovery research centre based in the University of York. Amaethon operates as an entirely stand-alone business securing licenses, identifying and creating new companies, and capturing and managing industry sponsored research contracts.
- IP2IPO is an intellectual property (IP) company that specialises in commercialising university technology. The Company was founded in 2001 and listed on AIM in October 2003 (AIM:IPO).