Susana Bernardino
PhD student
Background
MSc in Biotechnology (Biochemical Engineering),
IST, 2000
Graduation in Chemical Engineering, IST, 1996
Research Activities
Semi-synthetic penicillins (e.g. amoxicillin, ampicillin) and cephalosporins (e.g. cephalexin, cefaclor) correspond to 65% of the ever rising worldwide production of antibiotics. Penicillin G acylase (PGA) from E. coli is currently used to catalyze the synthesis of this b-lactam antibiotics. Availability of inexpensive enzyme catalysts with improved specificity, activity, purity and stability is a key issue in the development of successful methodologies for the enzymatic-based production of b-lactam antibiotics which allow for significant cost saving in the production. My research aims to optimize the immobilization of PGA in sol-gel matrices with magnetic properties and apply this new biocatalyst in cephalexin synthesis.