“Minds are like parachutes; they work best when open”

T. Dewar

project data

project id	783868
project description	An innovative bio-based platform for the cost-competitive production of L-fucose, a building blockfor Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs)

 

project objective

73100 have developed and patented a novel bacterial fermented biopolymer – FucoPol – as a natural source for the efficient production of pure L-fucose. L-fucose is a rare monosaccharide with limited natural availability and a precursor of complex carbohydrates, as Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs).

HMOs, which are highly abundant in human milk but not in infant formula, have been recently recognised as natural molecules with high potential for nutritional and biomedical applications. Despite the increasing market demand of these “specialty carbohydrates”, large scale production of HMOs is currently not feasible. Current technologies are hindered by the complexity and costs related to the attempt to increase the availability of the core component L-fucose.

In fact, this monosaccharide acts as building block for HMOs, representing over 60-70% of the oligosaccharides portion in human milk. FucoPol – as natural source of pure monosaccharides – solves the main industrial issues related to L-fucose production such as the complexity, costs and efficiency.

FucoPol bio-based platform offers a sustainable solution for industrial-commercialization of HMOs, by significantly increasing L-fucose availability.

Completing the innovation project objectives will result in the validation of the platform and enable the production of large amount of high-pure L-fucose to meet the quality/quantity industrial demand for this rare sugar.

The project leading to this application has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 783868