A sustainable and scalable drop-in catalyst for hydrogen-driven enzymatic reactions

Objective

Our patented HYDRObead technology provides a clean, energy-efficient solution for in-situ regeneration of essential cofactors such as NAD(P)H, a cornerstone for modern enzyme-based biotechnology. Traditional cofactor recycling systems often depend on sacrificial substrates, generating by-products that accumulate during the process. This not only drives up costs but can also impair enzyme reactions due to low biocompatibility. The breakthrough of HYDRObead is that it harnesses green hydrogen as a sustainable and nearly traceless electron source by relying on [FeFe]-hydrogenases as a highly scalable and efficient catalysts for hydrogen oxidation. This unique combination enables the direct integration of green hydrogen into enzyme-based biotechnology for driving even complex enzymatic processes at large scales. Building on the results of our ERC Consolidator Grant E-VOLUTION, we developed a scalable, robust, drop-in catalytic system based on the [FeFe]-hydrogenases for efficient hydrogen interconversion with high specificity and biocompatibility. Through our ERC Proof of Concept project HYDRObead, we are now collaborating with industrial partners to validate the technology and design a commercialization strategy, paving the way for a spin-off company. Our long-term goal is to establish this catalyst system as a cost-effective, enabling technology for in-situ cofactor recycling, meeting the growing demand for sustainable, enzyme-driven processes in modern biotechnology.