A methodology to produce polymeric membranes, which are biodegradable, resorbable and especially suited for facilitating guided bone regeneration, has been developed and patented. The methodology includes an activation process for altering in a controlled way the chemical composition and the roughness of the first layers of the film, according to specific needs.

Scientists at CSIC's Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología (IPNA) have obtained a customizable unit which can be selectively modified in the presence of natural amino acids and other convertible units, affording optically pure products. It can be transformed into a wide variety of derivatives and offers the possibility of obtaining products “à la carte”.

The CSIC has developed a catalytic procedure which enables a highly selective oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones, using minimum amounts of Palladium catalysts. In contrast with the current methodologies, additives are not needed which means significant economic and environmental advantages. Industrial partners are sought.

The CSIC has patented compounds derived from commercial alkyl gallates antioxidants (E310, E311 and E312, used as food additives) which, in addition to keep similar antioxidant activity, have surfactant properties comparable to commercial non-ionic surfactants. These compounds could be used to develop cosmetic, personal care products, food, agrochemical, fuel, and pharmaceutical products.

New derivatives of quinolones suitable for cancer treatment have been developed. The compounds are promising as they could offer a new pharmacological option when drug resistance appears.

Current technologies to analize mercury in water are either laboratory tools that need expert personal or portable systems with poor sensitivity.

The CSIC and two universities from Spain have synthesised new compounds to promote proliferation of natural killer T-cells, involved in immune responses.

A group of CSIC researchers has developed a method for extracting the internal lipids of wool, which contains a high concentration of ceramides very similar to humans. This lipids could be applied to the treatment of skin problems such as atopic skin.