Dr J.S. Dordick, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, USA

Dr Dordick’s lecture concerned the use of enzymes on a microfluidic biochip for a variety of chemical transformations. This allows biocatalysis to be performed on small scale (nanomolar). In addition the use of microfluidic platforms to generate metabolic enzymes through in vitro reconstruction and manipulation can give unique products. This allows array-based biocatalytic systems to be used for the rapid synthesis and screening of bioactive compounds. This was exemplified by the oxidation of polyketide derived and / or polyketide like guaiacols.