Fraunhofer Institute for Electron Beam
The laboratory complex provides innovative and sustainable solutions to complex problems faced by our customers. With a wide range of methods and equipment, interdisciplinary and industry-oriented research and development projects are carried out.
Among other things, the Biomedical Laboratory Complex focuses on using microorganisms to produce basic chemicals in a cycle-oriented way for the chemical, pharmaceutical, agricultural and environmental industries. We are focusing more and more on using phototrophic microorganisms for CO2-neutral, chemical-free production processes. Furthermore, we are investigating electron beam-treated seeds as a chemical-free alternative to conventional seed dressing.
Various bioreactor systems are available for biomass production and optimization of product synthesis on a laboratory scale. Scaling up to a 50-liter pilot plant scale is possible We have established various detection systems for cell analysis to assess viability, proliferation, differentiation, and membrane potential. We can prepare and modify various tissues using electron beam technology without the use of chemicals.
The services offered by the laboratory complex include
- Laboratories for microbiology, cell biology, biotechnology, materials and bioanalytics, chemistry
- Microscopy pool
- Testing of the biocompatibility and biofunctionality of materials, cytotoxicity tests
- Cell analysis: assessment of viability, proliferation, differentiation, changes in cell count, cell cycle and membrane potential
- Sterility testing and bioburden testing
- Micro- and cell biology analysis systems, e. g., for recording growth curves
- Biotechnological process control
- DNA and protein analysis
- Materials and surface analysis
We are developing an innovative small-scale bioreactor system with an integrated, low-energy electron beam source to serve as a demonstrator
A project funded by the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft (SME BioIntElekt, funding code: 601 015) focused on the development of a demonstrator consisting of a low-energy electron beam source in combination with a stirred laboratory bioreactor With the development of the demonstrator, the project aimed to combine electron beam technology and biotechnology in order to develop a process for the more efficient implementation of biotechnological processes in liquids. This was demonstrated using the example of microbial ore leaching in which special iron- and acid-loving bacteria are used to convert metals from their insoluble ores into water-soluble salts. This allows the metals to be extracted from the ore. The demonstrated the biopositive, stimulating effect of low doses of low-energy electrons on the microbial leaching of copper ore.