CELLS consists of three modules: one dedicated to the extraction of by-products coming from different industrial sectors (EXTRACT), one dedicated to their characterization and functionalization (FUNCTION), and one dedicated to the development of new devices based with these materials (SHAPE).
EXTRACT: Useful organic substances as building blocks will be obtained from natural sources through extraction: (i) using enzymes, already industrially employed and recently discovered and metallo-enzymes present in bacteria, fungi, and arthropods; (ii) through sustainable processes iii) and by means of physical processes.
FUNCTION: Materials will be functionalized to modulate compatibility (hydrophilicity), degradation rate, release rate of any molecules, antimicrobial activity, and mechanical resistance, enabling their use in different applications. New sustainable (green) processes for the chemical synthesis of building blocks from renewable sources will be designed and implemented.
SHAPE: The production of artifacts will be achieved through established but continually evolving technologies such as reactive extrusion or innovative ones like 3D printing (devices or printing of 3D circuits and integrated circuit patches), electrospinning (fabric patches, cylindrical grafts, wearables, core-shell structures, continuous fibres, etc.), hot embossing (widely consumed devices).