The Industrial Biotechnology initiative of Reliance Life Sciences encompasses:

• Biopolymers
• Biochemicals
• Enzymology

Reliance Life Sciences is involved in bioprocess innovation and development from process inception to industrial level production of Biopolymers, Biofuels and Biochemicals, employing microbial, plant, animal cells and cellular metabolites.

Biopolymers

Poly Lactic Acid (PLA)

Reliance Life Sciences has developed a complete process for production of Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) from renewable feedstocks by bacterial fermentation. Reliance Life Sciences has scaled up the process by a factor of 1,000.

Reliance Life Sciences is also developing co-polymers - (of Lactic and Glycolic Acid - PolyLactic-co-Glycolic Acid or PLGA) - of varying ratios and other biodegradable polymers including Polyvinylcaprolactums, Polyurethanes for biomedical applications. Reliance Life Sciences is also developing drug-delivery systems based on nanotechnology using PLA/PLGA for generic drugs as well as therapeutic proteins. Other application that is being pursued involves preparation of fibres of PLA/PLGA/PGA by wet/melt spinning for sutures, scaffolds etc

Hyaluronic acid

Reliance Life Sciences has developed a process for obtaining highly pure, medical grade Hyaluronic acid by bacterial fermentation. Hyaluronic acid, a biopolymer with high demand in cosmetics and biomedical industries, is also used as a lubricant for osteoarthritis and visco-elastic surgery for removing wrinkles, and in other cosmetic surgeries.

1, 3-Propane-diol

Reliance Life Sciences has developed a process for the production of 1,3 propane-diol by bacterial fermentation. 1,3 propanediol is used as a monomer for producing biodegradable polyesters, polyethers and polyurethanes. The bio-based propanediol has been successfully converted to fibre grade third generation polymer, polytrimethylene terepthalate.

Biochemicals

Reliance Life Sciences is developing a range of biochemicals from fermentation processes for medical and nutraceutical applications.