Engineered Polymers for Nucleic Acid Therapies

Nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA offer exceptional opportunities to fight against infectious and genetic diseases. To use nucleic acids effectively in a clinical setting, one needs to use effective delivery vehicles that can deliver the nucleic acids into the diseased cells. This project will develop effective delivery systems for this purpose. The delivery […]

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Surfing the Innovation Wave: Accelerate Development of Eco-efficient Technologies for Municipal and Industrial Water Treatment

Global population growth, urbanization and changing climate patterns have increased the demand for potable water, wastewater reuse and value recovery from wastewater, treatment of industrial process water, and food and beverage. Consequently, there is increased demand for improved technologies that can provide sustainable treatment of water and wastewaters, and development of new fluid treatment methods. […]

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Light-ends incorporation and new catalysts for hydroconversion of heavy oils

The proposed project seeks to improve the processing of Canadian oilsands bitumen using two key technical advancements associated with the upgrading of bitumen to fuels. Firstly, we will seek to reduce the consumption of costly hydrogen by using light-ends as a source of hydrogen and secondly we will improve the catalysts used to control the […]

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Corrosion protective coatings with high sound absorbing and thermal insulation capacity for oil and gas pipelines

In the first phase of this project, we will explore and optimize the application of commercially available hollow particles to increase the sound absorption properties of polyisobutylene-based corrosion protective coatings manufactured by Canusa-CPS. In the second phase, we will use a blending strategy in which we mix a base polymer of the coating with a […]

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Fire-resistant elastic fiber

Personal protective equipment (PPE) for essential workers in flammable environment requires two essential traits: fire resistance (FR) and fitting comfort. The fitting comfort is especially an issue for women firefighters, whose protective clothing are not appropriately catered. Elastic fibers in sportswear, such as Lycra, offer superb fitting and comfort, but their FR version is commercially […]

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Biosurfactants production by fermentation

The proposed project is a collaboration between InnuScience and researchers in the Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Department at Western University. InnuScience uses biotechnology to replace harmful chemicals, eliminate waste, and deliver sustainable cleaning solutions for the cleaning industry. This research collaboration will experimentally optimize the production of biosurfactants by microorganisms via fermentation pathways, focusing on […]

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Generating novel crystal polymorphs of therapeutic compounds with uniform size distribution for improved solubility, hygroscopicity and manufacturability

Two pharmaceutical products for the treatment of neurological diseases developed by Neuractas Therapeutics require fine tuning to enhance their solubility, bioavailability and stability towards relative humidity. Extensive experimental research will be carried out to improve the polymorphic distribution of the products by high through-put crystallization to improve the solubility of one of the products. In […]

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Stabilization of Mine Tailings using a Sustainable and Nature-based Approach

Mine tailings pose significant environmental risks due to their poor mechanical and chemical stability. This project aims to implement a novel nature-based procedure to improve stability of mine tailings using indigenous microorganisms with biocementation properties. Microorganisms capable of surviving in the tailings environment will be discovered that precipitate calcium carbonate. These organisms will be used […]

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CO2-less hydrogen gas production via RF (radiofrequency fields) methane pyrolysis

One of the major challenges today is reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) into the atmosphere and the increasing demand in the hydrogen energy sector. Currently, Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) is the industry standard in producing H2. Unfortunately, the H2 produced here is classified as “grey hydrogen” as the reaction between methane and water also produces […]

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Recycling Strategies for Challenging & Complex Polymer Composite Waste

Carbon Fiber (CF) is one of the world’s most versatile material ever developed. CF has high stiffness and tensile strength, is stronger than steel, lighter than aluminum and it can be molded into any shape. This allows it to be used in aerospace, airplane and automotive manufacturing. This MITACS grant will support the development of […]

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