Circular plastics

for biomedical research and diagnostics

The medical sector uses billions of culture dishes annually for cell and bacteriological research. Major users of culture dishes include: (academic) hospitals, research groups at companies and institutions, medical laboratories, and thrombosis services (including Certe, Lifelines, etc.). These consumables are made from oil-based plastics, primarily polystyrene (PS). The goal of BiomACS, in collaboration with Elbo Technics, MediaProducts, and the UMCG, is to replace polystyrene (PS) in biomedical research with a circular, renewable plastic: polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA).

Biobased and biodegradable culture systems

The goal of BiomACS is to replace polystyrene (PS) in biomedical research with a circular, renewable plastic, polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). Polyhydroxyalkanoates are polyesters produced by microorganisms that are stored within the bacteria themselves as a source of reserve energy. They are biobased and fully biodegradable. The potential of PHA as a replacement for conventional plastics is enormous..

BiomACS, in collaboration with its partners, is developing petri dishes and microtiter plates made from PHA for cell and bacteriological research and diagnostics. BiomACS’s screening technology will be used to ensure that the PHA culture systems deliver the same results as conventional PS systems.

This project is made possible by the following organizations