Biological and enzymatic activity stimulation of biological carbon capture systems with a femtosecond laser

The PhD research will be guided by the following hypothesis: laser irradiation of enzymatic and cellular systems changes the energy levels of protein molecules, leading to conformational and structural changes in the active and/or regulatory centers and accelerates enzyme-mediated processes, including photosynthesis. This hypothesis tests the possibility of increasing the efficiency of CO2 capture through targeted modification of biological structures using a femtosecond laser.

Use of Femtosecond Laser: Chosen for its unique ability to interact with biological structures without thermal effects, allowing for the targeting of enzymatic and cellular systems. Mechanism of Action: Central to the study is understanding the mechanism by which laser irradiation leads to changes in the energy levels of proteins, facilitating conformational and structural changes that accelerate enzyme-mediated processes. These changes are presumed to increase the activity of enzymes such as carbonic anhydrase and RubisCO, crucial for CO2 capture and photosynthesis.

Experimental Design: The study will use a series of controlled experiments to observe and analyze the effects of laser irradiation on various biological structures. Methods such as spectroscopy and microscopy will be used to measure conformational changes and the efficiency of CO2 capture.

Evaluation of Results: The evaluation will focus on establishing a correlation between laser-induced changes in biological systems and improvements in CO2 capture processes. This will include analysis of the stability of modified systems and their long-term functionality. Conclusion: Through tests and analyses of laser-induced changes in biological systems, the research aims to reveal new possibilities for efficient and sustainable CO2 capture, which is essential for addressing climate change and improving environmental sustainability.

This material was created with the financial support of the European Union through the “NextGenerationEU” instrument. All responsibility for the content of this document lies with the Institute of Solid State Physics – BAS, and under no circumstances can it be considered to reflect the official position of the European Union and the Monitoring and Reporting Structure to the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.