We promote our students and faculty members to take up innovative project works and eventually develop it into a product. The ultimate aim is to create self- reliant and determined job providers than job seekers. Keeping this in mind, the department provides various sessions and orientation programmes to motivate and guide them to achieve their dream. Such platforms help the students to know the demand of the market and work towards their goal.
BIOFEN- A Biofilter
A team headed by Dr. Uma Krishnakumar comprising of Ms. Angel Davis, Mr. Antony Sebastian, Ms. Merry Ann and Ms. Milna George of the final year B.Tech Biotechnology of 2018-22 batch has developed a biofilter called BIOFEN.
Aesira: Lectin-based biosensor for colorectal cancer detection
Colorectal cancer cases are among the five top most cases reported. Currently physical examination and colonoscopy are the widely used technology for the detection of colon cancer. An all women team headed by Dr. P. Praveena comprising of Ms. Alby Dixon, Ms. Anagha Rajendran, Ms. Irine Susan Issac and Ms. Juna Varghese of the final year B.Tech Biotechnology of 2018-22 batch has developed a Point-of-care device using Lectin biosensors to detect cancer associated biomarkers in serum. This technology can lead to the development of a non-invasive preliminary technique for the detection of colon cancer.
Keythin
Plastics and plastic products play a significant role in our day today life. But many of the plastic based packaging materials which are discarded after use; poses several threats to environment. This can be overcome only by finding suitable alternate solutions. This all women team consisting of Ms. Alisha Babu, Ms. Anugraha V. I, Ms. Megha Vincent and Ms. Saincy Mariya of 2017-21 batch have exploited the possibility that bioplastics that are naturally degradable and can possibly substitute the traditional non degradable plastic materials that we use specially for food packaging. Under the mentorship of Ms. Salini.P. J, the team extracted and synthesized bio-plastic from chicken feathers which are also a major slaughter house waste and can cause environmental pollution. Currently the team is working on improving the biodegradability of conventional biodegradable plastic and also to utilize the chicken feather waste effectively. So this will effectively solve the issue of (1) production of a value added product (2) A plausible solution for a major environmental concern.
The team has received a seed starter fund of Rs.2,00,000/- from Kerala Start Up mission.
Zaara Biotech
Zaara biotech is a Biotechnology Start-up company established in 2016 founded by Mr. Najeeb Bin Haneef of 2016-20 batch with prime focus on Research and product development on Energy and Food crisis using micro-algae.
B’Lite Cookies
In collaboration with Indian Council of Agriculture and Research-CIFT Cochin, Govt. of India, the company is manufacturing India’s First Algal- Seaweed Food product in the form of cookies branded B’Lite. The company is also focusing on other FMCG products that ensure complete family care for targeted customers by utilizing amazing nutritional properties of microalgae and seaweeds.
Najeebs’ entrepreneurial journey started in 2016 by visiting CFTRI which ignited his passion and he eventually started algal culture during his third semester.
Under the mentorship of Dr. Ambili Mechoor, the head of Dept of Biotechnology, he and his team coordinated with ICAR-CIIFT and launched their first product B’Lite.
In 2019, B’Lite was exhibited at Global Goals Models United Nations, Malaysia.
This Biotech Start-up was also fostered under the Kerala Start-up Mission’s (KSUM) flagship Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Centre (IEDC) scheme. In 2021, Zaara Biotech secured $10 million investment from UAE-based TCN International Commerce for the same technology.
In 2022 Zaara Biotech scooped a huge investment from US based Transcend International to set up the algal seaweed technology facility in the USA.
Mushroom hub
Incharge: Dr.Midhila Padman
The mushroom hub provides fresh mushrooms of different varieties like oyster and button mushrooms. Mushroom cultivation is one of the most profitable agribusinesses that can be started with minimum investment and space. Mushrooms are considered to be healthy, which are low in calories, rich in fibre, and are important sources of vitamins and minerals. They contribute to the maintenance of red blood cells and healthy nerve functions. The main activities of this section are to culture edible mushrooms, study the diversity of edible and non-edible fungus, train the students, and also distribute mushrooms.
| Activity | Incharge | Description |
| Biofertilizer | Dr.Midhila Padman | The state of Kerala suffered its worst monsoon flooding in a century in the month of August 2018, with more than one million people displaced, and more than 400 reported deaths. Floods also heighten the risks for contamination, environmental hazards and diseases. Dangers to disaster-affected areas and public health risks associated with these floods are often overlooked. In view of this, our department initiated a study to assess the contamination and spoilage of ayurvedic products. For this, contaminated ayurvedic products were obtained from Oushadhi, Thrissur, and technology was developed to convert the contaminated and spoiled products into decontaminated and value-added products.   |
CHITOWRAPPER
Environmental pollution is a consequence of human activities. The nature of wastes is wide and varied, being broadly classified into: agricultural, municipal and industrial. Disposal of waste plastic packaging materials has raised a serious problem worldwide leading to environmental pollution due to the fact that most of the plastic packaging materials are generally non- biodegradable.
Chitin is the second most abundant natural polysaccharide after cellulose and is present in the crustacean exoskeleton, insects and fungi. This all women team from Sahrdaya consisting of Ms. Aleena Sebastian, Ms. Anitta Sunny, Ms. Jeena Elizabeth Rajan, Ms. Swathy Das of 2013-17 batch under the supervision of Ms.Smeera Thomas has come up with a sustainable solution.
‘Chitowrapper’ is a biodegradable packaging material made from chitosan. The process consisted of extraction of chitosan from shrimp shell waste followed by characterization of the extracted chitosan. After this, a chitobased film for application in food packaging was prepared.
This team won ‘Women in Technology’ award in TechTop 2017, consisting of Certificate of merit and a cash award of Rs.20,000/-.
The same team also won a cash prize of Rs.1,00,000/- in Dr. Pradeep P Thevannoor Innovation Awards in 2018.
PeBLaS: Organic Toothpaste
Incharge: Dr.Ambili Mechoor
PeBLaS, a novel organic toothpaste formulation; which can prove itself better one than the ones available in the market which contains a certain amount of toxic chemicals. The material used for the preparation includes: Bentonite clay, common salt, baking soda, water, coconut oil, few drops of essential oil (specific) in a particular quantitative ratio.
Orientation is designed to answer questions before they are asked and to provide solutions before problems occur. Identifying appropriate goals for each stage of the orientation process and addressing those goals through the appropriate mechanisms are keys to a successful orientation process. By planning appropriately and using all campus resources, orientation should relieve individual student’s anxieties and prepare the new students for success. The Orientation programme revolves around the Case Study, Goal Setting, Time Management, Team Building etc. The Orientation programme is intended to inculcate the students with the quality of self- reliance through awareness of the social, intellectual and moral environment as well as to discover self-potential and confidence.
2021-22:
Mr. Najeeb Bin Haneef, the Founder& CEO of Zaara Biotech conducted an online orientation program on 22 June 2022 for the second semester students. An offline session was conducted for the same students on 27 June 2022.
Mr.Najeeb addressed the students fourth semester on 28 June 2022.
2019-20:
Dr. Leon Ittiachen conducted a session on ‘Strategies for innovative product development in Biotechnology’ on 04 Feb 2020 for the students of Department of Biotechnology.
To enable the students to learn the courses and its related concepts thoroughly, various instructional materials are made available. Laboratory manuals are made available for the laboratory experiments. Two copies of lab manuals are maintained in the lab- a student copy and a controlled copy (staff copy). The details pertaining to all the experiments are clearly defined in the staff copy. The lab manual also has additional experiments (add-on experiments) that are performed by the students. To increase student’s interest in a course, various instructional materials are made available through the Linways portal as well. The details of the instructional materials are given in Table 5.7.3.c.
Table 5.7.3.c, Details of instructional materials
| Sl No. | Area | Instructional Materials | Available in Website/ Department Library/ Central Library |
| 1. | Academic courses | PowerPoint Presentations Video Lectures Question Banks Previous year university question papers | Linways (LMS) Sample-video lecture Linways (LMS) Sahrdaya Central library University Question Papers |
| 2. | All research fields | Technical Journals Online resources | Link Link |
| 3. | Product development | Biotech related product development | Link |
| Sl no. | Name of the charts |
| 1 | CRISPR-Cas 9 |
| 2 | Decolourisation of textile dyes using mono and mixed cultures of fungi producing laccase enzyme |
| 3 | Human insulin production |
| 4 | Non-enzymatic biosensor for detection of liver biomarkers |
| 5 | Biosurfactant: An innovative path for bioremediation |
| 6 | Novel packaging for food spoilage detection |
| 7 | Antimicrobial biofilm |
