We combine
nature and science
to fight indoor
air pollution
Microbiome Engineering
Using directed evolution, we selected and trained bacterial strains to become highly efficient at breaking down volatile organic compounds (VOCs). By gradually increasing their exposure to pollutants, we enhanced their ability to metabolize harmful compounds like formaldehyde and BTEX.
We worked on two specific bacterial strains to create a microbiome that excels at air purification:
Engineering strain 1
Pseudomonas putida
Iteration and development
1.5 years
Targeted pollutants
Benzene, toluene, and xylene
Engineering strain 2
Methylobacterium extorquens
Iteration and development
3 years
Targeted pollutants
Formaldehyde
Performance Testing
We rigorously analyze the air purification capability of our bioengineered microbiome through multiple levels of testing, progressively increasing in complexity:
(1) Molecular testing
Initial screening of bacterial strains in petri dishes, exposing them to VOCs to identify the most effective pollutant-eaters.
(2) 2L chamber testing
Introducing the best strains into soil and measuring how they remove gaseous pollutants in a controlled chamber environment.
(3) 30L chamber testing
Scaling up to a larger chamber, with continuous pollutant flow to assess the strains' performance under constant exposure.
(4) Bedroom-size testing
Final large-scale test in a 160 sq ft room (1400 cu ft), comparing air quality improvements between a control room and one containing Neoplants enhanced with their microbiome.
Scientists
- Patrick Torbey (PhD)
With a PhD in Genetic Engineering from ENS and as Co-Founder & former CTO, Patrick is now our CEO. Leading the company with vision and expertise, he’s responsible for driving all strategic decisions and shaping the company’s direction and growth.
- Iman Tabatabaei (PhD)
Iman is our Director of Plant Science, leading the entire division with expertise and vision. He is a specialist and leads genome editing and in-vitro transformation section, driving innovation at Neoplants and pushing the boundaries of plant science to develop groundbreaking solutions.
- Alex Mercier (PhD)
Alex is our Microbiology Lead, focused on developing and refining Power Drops to ensure they integrate seamlessly with our plants, optimizing performance and functionality.
- Jerôme Bodin
Jerôme is our Lead Biotechnology Engineer, leading the DNA NeoFoundry platform. His expertise drives the development of cutting-edge DNA technologies, advancing our capabilities in molecular engineering.
- Alexandre Caron (PhD)
Alexandre is our Performance & Measurement Lead, overseeing the testing and evaluation of Power Drops and Plants. With a keen eye for detail, he ensures everything operates at peak efficiency, helping us maintain high standards of performance and reliability.
- Maeva le Goff
Maeva is our Microbiology Research Engineer, focused on enhancing the VOC degradation of our Power Drops. By developing and applying cutting-edge gene editing tools, she pushes the boundaries of innovation to improve performance.
- Margaux D'Avola
Margaux is our Research Engineer on our innovation team, applying her expertise in molecular biology and biochemistry to develop plants with groundbreaking new features, pushing the limits of what’s possible in plant science.
- Dona Sleiman (PhD)
With a PhD and extensive postdoctoral experience, Dona is now our R&D Director, overseeing the entire team. Her deep expertise drives forward-thinking research and innovation, shaping the future of our projects and initiatives.
Plant Metabolism Engineering
We see nature as the key to a greener future. Our mission is to drive positive change by placing it at the center of innovation and shifting toward nature tech over machines.
To achieve this, we are advancing projects beyond microbiome engineering. Optimizing plant metabolism is our next step, to enhance their ability to convert harmful indoor pollutants into harmless substances.
We’re currently focusing on gene modification techniques to fine-tune metabolic pathways, ensuring effective responses while maintaining plant health.