Projects
PlantUp
Upgrading the Plant Capital
Exploitation of Natural Products of the Hellenic plant biodiversity –
Research Infrastructure – RI
micrometabolite
Research Training Network on the Microbial Enhancement of Bioactive Secondary Metabolite Production in Plants
aromadistil
Greek Aromatic and medicinal plants exploitation –
T1ΕΔΚ-04174
Σ. ΚΕΧΡΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΣΙΑ ΟΕ
Effect of vinification protocol on the extraction of volatile resin components in alcoholic fermentation of Retsina in barrels
3D–BioPerioDontis
Bioabsorbable three-dimensional (3d) printed scaffolds for personalized treatment of periodontitis – T2ΕΔΚ-01641
XeroPharmPaste
Development of a pilocarpine specialized pharmaceutical toothpaste for the treatment of xerostomia – T2ΕΔΚ-00842
LuteoPaste
Development of luteolin based products for the treatment of periodontitis –
T2ΕΔΚ-01627
Upgrading the Plant Capital
PlantUp is a Research Infrastructure (RI) that belongs to the National Roadmap that has been elaborated by GSRT in 2014, in alignment with the objectives of the NSRTDI (2014-2020). It is implemented under the Action “Reinforcement of the Research and Innovation Infrastructure”, funded by the Operational Programme “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation” (NSRF 2014-2020) and co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Regional Development Fund). It represents a well-coordinated ‘block’ of cutting-edge research facilities with high added-value, designed to support the scientific, technological & industrial communities and government, while boosting innovation on the field of Upgrading the national Plant Capital. PlantUP aspires to establish new roadmaps for securing biodiversity and crop production, further promoting the exploitation of national flora through the development of Natural Products – activities that are expected to enhance the national economy within a global challenging innovative framework. It also aims at the introduction and development of an integrated and cutting-edge infrastructure for the preservation and exploitation of the wealth and heritage of the Hellenic plant biodiversity, while assuring consumers’ health and environmental protection.
PlantUp RI is a partnership of 5 core nodes, one of which is the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), coordinated by A. Assimopoulou. AUTh partners are working on the sustainable exploitation of Natural Products of the Hellenic plant biodiversity towards the development of high-added value products.
Microbial Enhancement of Bioactive Secondary Metabolites
MICROMETABOLITE is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network funded by the European Community’s Framework programme HORIZON 2020. The overall objective of MICROMETABOLITE is to explore interactions between plants and microorganisms involved in the production of secondary metabolites (SM) for introducing novel ingredients in pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical industry. Effects of microorganisms on the plant metabolome and the biosynthesis of bioactive SM will be studied in the Boraginaceae plant family, aimed at optimising plant cultivation and alkannins/shikonins (A/S) production. Microorganisms will be integrated in plant production systems, and protocols needed for efficient implementation in industry will be elaborated. Thereby a platform will be established that will support long-term interactions between academia and industry.
Greek Aromatic and medicinal plants exploitation
AromaDistil is co‐financed by the European Union and Greek national funds through the Operational Program Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, under the call RESEARCH – CREATE – INNOVATE (project code:Τ1EDK- 04174).
Aim of the project is to characterize and botanically identify medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP) provided by several growers to the company by DNA barcoding, the determination of constituents of extracts and distillates from MAP and the standardization of such products, since due to nature’s biodiversity and chemodiversity the distillates/extracts of MAP can present significant differentiation in their constituents. The project targets to improve and optimize the parameters involved in the extraction/distillation processes, aiming to improve the quality of the final products, to the exploitation of MAP and their products as natural antioxidants and/or preservatives for foods/cosmetics and pharmaceuticals and also to the systematic exploration of the constituents biosynthesized in the conventional field cultivation in comparison to hydroponic technique.
The academic partners are members of the Natural Products Research Centre of Excellence (NatPro-AUTh team) at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research (KEDEK AUTh) of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
Κεχρής
Effect of vinification protocol on the extraction of volatile resin components in alcoholic fermentation of Retsina in barrels
KEXRHS is co‐financed by the European Union and Greek national funds through the Operational Program Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, under the call RESEARCH – CREATE – INNOVATE
Aim of the project is to study the effect of vinification protocol on the extraction of volatile resin components in alcoholic fermentation of Retsina in barrels.
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Bioabsorbable three-dimensional (3d) printed scaffolds for personalized treatment of periodontitis
3D-BioPerioDontis is co-financed by the European Union and Greek national funds through the Operational Program Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, under the call RESEARCH – CREATE – INNOVATE (project code: T2ΕΔΚ-01641). The objective of the 3D-Peri (bio)dontis project is to study new biomaterials for the fabrication of innovative bio absorbable 3D printed scaffolds for personalized medicine for periodontitis, which will act simultaneously as drug delivery systems for controlled delivery of APIs. In particular, this proposal seeks to achieve the necessary technological advancements and to solve specific technical issues in order to enable the development of new specialized biomaterials for the preparation of API-impregnated 3D scaffolds for the personalized therapy of periodontitis.
XeroPharmPaste
Development of a pilocarpine specialized pharmaceutical toothpaste for the treatment of xerostomia
XeroPharmPaste is co-financed by the European Union and Greek national funds through the Operational Program Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, under the call RESEARCH – CREATE – INNOVATE (project code: T2ΕΔΚ-00842). XeroPharmPaste project aims to develop an innovative pharmaceutical product in the form of a specialized toothpaste, containing pilocarpine (a cholin-ergic agonist) as an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), which is able to offer a combined relief of the symptoms of dry mouth, prevention of the oral cavity diseases (dental plaque, caries, etc.), improved oral hygiene and reduced side effects caused by the systematic per os administration of the API
Development of luteolin based products for the treatment of periodontitis
3D-BioPerioDontis is co-financed by the European Union and Greek national funds through the Operational Program Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, under the call RESEARCH – CREATE – INNOVATE (project code: T2ΕΔΚ-01627). LuteoPaste project aims to exploit Greek biodiversity for the isolation of suitable bioactive substances based on flavones, and in particular luteolin, for the development of a new cosmeceutical formulation platform (a toothpaste and a gel) against periodontitis.
Completed Projects
- COST Action (TD0802), 2008-2013, European Science Foundation “Biomedical Applications of Dendrimers” (Participated as a leader of a working group, Lead Participant).
- Short term scientific mission (STSM, Guest) under the frames of COST Action TD0802 of a member of our research team (A. Dasargyri) at the Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS) (ex DiSTAM), University of Milan, Italy, Prof. Dimitrios Fessas (Host). 01-02/2012.
- Participates as a core node to the National Roadmap for Research Infrastructure, December 2014, PlantUP entitled: Upgrading the Plant Capital (Reinforcing the National Research Infrastructure for the sustainable exploitation of biodiversity towards high-added value natural products). Coordinator: Prof. A-L. Skaltsounis, HELLENIC REPUBLIC Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs General Secretariat for Research and Technology.
- 05DSBEPRO-75, Call “Competitiveness” “Development of a medical device based on a biodegradable collagen membrane and contains the pharmaceutical preparation “HELIXDERM”, in cooperation with MEDEXIS Biotech S.A (leader of the subcontractor, AUTH).
- Project “Synthesis and evaluation of bioactive naphthoquinones and non-coloured derivatives for application in wound healing medicines”, P.N.G. GEROLYMATOS Pharmaceutical Co. and Agricultural University of Athens (EPAN), 2003-2005 (participated as a researcher).
- Project “Study and research for synthetic production of esters of shikalkin, main derivatives of the pharmaceutical preparation HELIXDERM®”, P.N.G. GEROLYMATOS Pharmaceutical Co. (2000 – 2001) (participated as a researcher).
- Project ” Determination of explosives in soil samples”, ARCHIMEDES NEONAKIS S.A., 8/4/2014 to 26-6-2014.
- Project ” Determination of explosives in processed soil samples”, SOUKOS ROBOTS S.A. 26/11/2014 to 31-12-2014.
- Coordinates the Natural Products Research Centre of Excellence-AUTH (NatPro-AUTH), at the Center of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, that the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki has established since 2015
- Quality control and standardization of oil extracts of Boraginaceous species. FEVRONIA KERPEKOGLOU Ltd (Vyamedica). 21-4-2015 to 20-4-2016.
- Quality control and standardization of oil extracts of Boraginaceous species. DIOMIN HEALTH CARE ΙΚΕ. 6-2-2017 to 5-4-2017.
