Aragon leads a European project to develop natural treatments that protect cultural heritage from biodeterioration
Researchers from the CSIC at INMA (CSIC–Unizar) are coordinating the initiative, which will test solutions based on enzymes and nanotechnology in extreme conditions in Mexico
The sustainable formulations can then be adapted to protect archaeological remains and buildings anywhere in the world, offering alternatives to conventional biocides
Zaragoza, 28 November 2025. Aragon will be the starting point for an ambitious international project that seeks to revolutionise the conservation of cultural heritage exposed to and/or affected by biodeterioration. The research will begin next January and will be carried out by CSIC researchers at INMA, the Institute of Nanoscience and Materials of Aragon (a joint institute of the Spanish National Research Council and the University of Zaragoza).
The CoNFine (Conservation of built heritage: Natural Formulations agaiNst bio-dEterioration) line of research is funded by the European Union through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie–Global Fellowships Actions, and its objective is to develop treatments based on enzymes immobilised in nanoparticles and polymer gels to slow down the biodeterioration caused by microorganisms, one of the main threats to buildings and archaeological remains. This could replace conventional biocides, which are usually toxic and have a high environmental impact, and slow down the deterioration of heritage without endangering health or the environment. The CSIC is currently the Spanish institution with the most actions within the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions.
Specifically, the project is being carried out by the INMA’s Bionanosurf Group and is led by Águeda Sáenz Martínez and supervised by Scott G. Mitchell, both CSIC scientists at INMA. It also has the collaboration of the Corrosion Research Centre at the Autonomous University of Campeche (UACAM) and the Applied Microbiology Laboratory at the Juárez Autonomous University of Tabasco (UJAT) in Mexico.
The new formulations will be tested at the Oxpemul archaeological site in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, where environmental conditions—high relative humidity and high temperature—accelerate biodeterioration.
This trial in an extreme setting will allow the solutions developed to be subsequently adapted to stone buildings and structures anywhere in the world, including Aragon, where there are numerous examples of exposed heritage, from Romanesque churches to traditional constructions.
The project will last 36 months (2026-2028)
It also incorporates citizen science activities to involve society in monitoring and assessing the state of conservation, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
CoNFine has received €256,753.20 in European funding and seeks to offer alternatives to conventional biocides. The ultimate goal is to position Aragon as a benchmark in sustainable heritage conservation, combining cutting-edge research, international cooperation and future application in the region.
Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence
The Aragon Nanoscience and Materials Institute (INMA) has been the first in our Autonomous Community to obtain Severo Ochoa accreditation of excellence, awarded by the State Research Agency. This recognition entails funding of €4.5 million and the provision of five pre-doctoral contracts for the period 2024-2028. These are in addition to the ten already awarded in the previous call for applications, when INMA came close to achieving accreditation.
INMA is a joint institute, created three years ago by merging two research centres belonging to the CSIC and the University of Zaragoza, precisely with the aim of achieving this mark of excellence. With around 300 members, it has more than 40 European projects underway and an annual average of 300 publications and €7 million obtained in competitive public programmes. It also works in collaboration with industry, generating around one million euros per year from contracts and royalties.
Title of the project “Conservation of built heritage: Natural Formulations agaINst bio-dEterioration” (ConFIne), whose Grant Agreement number is 101209275.
Photos of the researchers Scott G. Mitchell & Águeda Sáenz
28-11-2025
