Grants and Contributions:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year. (2017-2018 to 2018-2019)

Domtar is the largest integrated producer of uncoated free sheet paper in North America. As a result they are ax000D
major producer of lignin, a relatively low value by-product that is used as a solid fuel to generate process steamx000D
and power. Lignin, a substance in the cellular walls of plants, is the second most abundant renewable carbonx000D
source on our planet. Domtar has recently produced high-grade USDA Certified bio-based lignin, referred to asx000D
BioChoice lignin for potential applications in the energy and chemical industries. For the first time, thex000D
proposed research intends to explore Domtar's proprietary BioChoice lignin and derivatives, to be synthesizedx000D
through this research, for applications in drug delivery. It is expected that this research will result in newx000D
intellectual property for Domtar and bring its proprietary material BioChoice into the pharmaceutical realm.x000D
Domtar's proprietary BioChoice Kraft lignin is produced from the black liquor of the Plymouth mill at a rate ofx000D
about 50-100 tons per day. While the Plymouth mill was the first commercial demonstration plant, Domtar alsox000D
has 11 other pulp mills, four of which are in Canada. It is Domtar's intention to build out their lignin capacity inx000D
many or all of these facilities as demands and markets grow. Given lignin's low cost, sustainability, resistancex000D
to oxidation, biocompatibility and biodegradability it is of interest for use in biomedical applications. Yet tox000D
date, very few studies have explored lignin and its derivatives for applications in drug delivery. The goal of thex000D
current research is to synthesize and fully characterize BioChoice lignin-based microparticles that providex000D
sustained release of drugs for veterinary applications. The global animal healthcare market, was valued atx000D
US$27.8 billion in 2013 and is expected to reach US$41.9 billion in 2019. New technologies that providex000D
controlled delivery of drugs for maintenance of good health and treatment of diseases in companion andx000D
commercial animals will further advance this fast growing industry. Growth in this industry in Canada willx000D
result in new opportunities for scientists trained in chemistry as well as pharmaceutical and veterinary sciences.