Swedish biotech startup raises funding to enable efficient recovery of clean water

Published on by in Technology

Swedish biotech startup raises funding to enable efficient recovery of clean water

Retein

Gothenburg-based startup Retein has secured almost €1 million (11 MSEK) in funding from a group of investors including Industrifonden, Butterfly Ventures, Navigare Ventures, and Chalmers Ventures. The startup, formerly known as Aquammodate, has developed a revolutionary water purification technology that uses aquaporin proteins to eliminate pollutants such as microplastics and pharmaceutical residues. The funding will enable Retein to bring its technology to market and provide clean drinking water to communities in need.

Retein, until recently named Aquammodate, was founded in 2019 and has developed a patented technology for energy-efficient and high-purity water separation. The technology has the potential to reduce the cost for recovering clean water and have lower impact on the environment than traditional methods. The new investment will be used to increase the production of stabilized aquaporins and finalize the development of a filtration module with embedded aquaporins.

Simon Isaksson, co-founder and CEO at Retein, said: “We are excited to welcome Industrifonden, Butterfly Ventures, and Navigare Ventures on board our journey towards enabling sustainable reuse of resources such as clean water. Their extensive experience in scaling and advancing deep tech solutions adds additional strength on our path to realize the transformational potential of our solution”.

The patented molecular separation technology was initially developed over the course of Simon Isaksson’s PhD project under the supervision of Retein co-founder professor Martin Andersson, at Chalmers University of Technology. The foundation of the technology is a biomimetic approach to water separation, as the company has taken inspiration by how aquaporins function in diatoms. The proprietary silica stabilization allows the aquaporins to be used as an additive to various kinds of filters on a wide range of scales.

Aquaporins are a type of protein that are found in the membranes of cells and are responsible for facilitating the transport of water molecules across the membrane. They are integral membrane proteins that form channels, or pores, in the cell membrane, allowing water molecules to move through them in a highly selective manner.

Aquaporins are essential for regulating the water balance in cells and organs throughout the body. They are found in many different types of cells, including those in the kidneys, eyes, brain, and lungs, where they play a critical role in maintaining proper water balance and preventing the accumulation of excess fluid.

Aquaporins have also been studied for their potential applications in water filtration and desalination technologies, as well as for their role in plant water transport.

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