Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Biography

R. Katsarava is a full Professor and Director of the Institute of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering of the Agricultural University of Georgia. Prof. R.Katsarava is the founder of several new polycondensation methods of polymer synthesis that have been developing since 70s. Prof. R.Katsarava and his team pioneered the synthesis of several new families of highly biocompatible and biodegradable non-conventional polymers composed of naturally occurring α-amino acids and other nontoxic building blocks such as fatty dicarboxylic acids and diols (Pseudo-proteins). These polymers show the widest range of mechanical, physical-chemical and biochemical properties, have a high potential for numerous sophisticated biomedical applications as surgical materials and drug eluting/delivery systems. Some polymers created by the R. Katsarava’s team are being applied in the medico-pharmaceutical industry in the USA, the Netherlands, Canada, China and Georgia. Prof. R.Katsarava is the World recognized expert in the field of biomedical polymers, he is a member of several National and International professional organizations and editorial boards of journals. Prof. R.Katsarava has more than 400 publications including papers in leading International journals, possesses various Georgian, US, Japanese, Chinese and Australian patents, filed several PCT applications. Prof. R. Katsarava and co-workers received 64 grants of various types from National and International Science Foundations. In 2007 Prof. R.Katsarava was awarded the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Gold Medal as an Outstanding Inventor. In 2017 R. Katsarava was named as the best Georgian Scientist of the year by the Shota Rustaveli NSF of Georgia.

Research Interest

Nanotechnology, Materials Chemistry and Polymer Chemistry