The medicines we consume do not simply disappear after use. A significant proportion of pharmaceutical compounds are excreted unmetabolized and eventually reach rivers, lakes, groundwater, and even drinking water supplies through wastewater discharges. Diclofenac, a widely used anti-inflammatory drug with global annual consumption exceeding 1,000 tons, has become one of the most concerning emerging pollutants. It's been detected in diverse aquatic ecosystems, where it has been linked to toxic effects in organisms ranging from oxidative stress to impaired development and increased mortality. Conventional wastewater treatment systems struggle to remove these compounds efficiently, underscoring the need for innovative, sustainable biotechnological solutions.
The fellowship conducted by Paola Mishell Velásquez Yánez addressed this environmental challenge. Her research focused on the remarkable potential of a Pseudomonas strain previously identified for its capacity to degrade aromatic pollutants. Rather than limiting her work to demonstrating that the microorganism could remove diclofenac, Paola explored how modern microfluidic technologies could enhance and ultimately facilitate the practical deployment of this biological remediation capacity.
She investigated the effectiveness of the bacterium when organized as biofilms—structured microbial communities known for their robustness and high metabolic activity—and also alternative immobilization strategies that could serve as the foundation for future water treatment applications. Her work moved beyond basic proof-of-concept studies into the design of practical platforms capable of incorporating living microorganisms into real-world remediation devices.
The results demonstrated the considerable promise of these approaches—biofilms formed by Pseudomonas sp. within microfluidic systems achieved rapid, highly efficient diclofenac removal, reaching 83% elimination within 24 hours —providing valuable insights for the development of next-generation water sanitation technologies.
UNU-BIOLAC gratefully acknowledges the guidance and support provided by Dr. Luis Fernando Olguín Contreras of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), who hosted and supervised the fellowship, as well as Dr. Silvina Juárez Tomás and Dr. Betiana Lerner of PROIMI-CONICET (Argentina) for their mentorship and continued support.
