Frontier IP takes 25pc stake in natural solvents firm Des Solutio

(Sharecast News) - University intellectual property commercialisation specialist Frontier IP announced on Tuesday that it was taking a 25% stake in Des Solutio, a company developing "safer and greener" alternatives to the chemicals currently used to make beauty, pharmaceutical, personal care and other products.The AIM-traded firm said Des Solutio was established to develop and commercialise the research of associate professor Ana Rita Duarte and Dr Alexandre Paiva of Portugal's NOVA University Lisbon, NOVA School of Science and Technology (FCT NOVA).It said their research had already attracted interest from several major industrial groups, including an unidentified "world-leading" cosmetics company and a major pharmaceutical company.In return for its stake, Frontier IP would provide Des Solutio with a broad range of commercialisation services, including contract negotiation and identifying and working with potential industry partners to validate and scale up the technology.Des Solutio was currently developing new methods to use natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) in cosmetics, nutraceuticals and other applications, to replace toxic organic solvents such as ethanol, which are used currently.Solvents were commonly used in a wide range of industries to extract active ingredients from natural matrices, such as olive oil, mint or seaweed, to flavour and scent their products, and enhance the shelf-life and stability of the bioactives, Frontier IP explained.It said that NADES offered a number benefits over existing solvents, and were found in a "vast range" of plants, thus compliant with a green chemistry philosophy.They were entirely derived from natural compounds such as organic acids, amino acids and sugars.As there were a vast range of NADES already identified, they could reportedly be matched to specific active ingredients to extract only what was needed.Frontier IP said there was no need to recover an active ingredient from a NADES, unlike conventional solvents, some of which were "too toxic" for use on skin or in foods.Other advantages of the technology included improved solubility, permeability and bioavailability of the active compounds, better biodegradability than many organic solvents, and greener production processes.The company said the incorporation of Des Solutio was a further sign of Frontier IP's growing momentum in Portugal.It was its second spin out from FCT NOVA following NTPE - a company developing novel technology to print electronic circuits, sensors and semiconductors on to paper.The group recently entered into a strategic partnership with the UK government's Department for International Trade in Portugal."We're delighted to be working with Frontier IP on developing and bringing this groundbreaking science into the commercial world," said Des Solutio co-founder Ana Rita Duarte."NADES have huge potential for making a host of everyday products greener and safer for people to use."Frontier IP chief executive Neil Crabb added that his company was "very excited" about the possibilities for Des Solutio."The technology being developed by Professor Ana Rita Duarte and Dr Alexandre Paiva has already attracted interest from major multinationals," Crabb explained."Its incorporation as our second Portuguese spin out is further sign of our growing strength in the country."