Bioprocess

About: Bioprocess is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2219 publications have been published within this topic receiving 50972 citations.

Assessment of genome packaging in AAVs using Orbitrap-based charge-detection mass spectrometry

Abstract: Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) represent important gene therapy vectors with several approved clinical applications and numerous more in clinical trials. Genome packaging is an essential step in the bioprocessing of AAVs and needs to be tightly monitored to ensure the proper delivery of transgenes and the production of effective drugs. Current methods to monitor genome packaging have limited sensitivity, a high demand on labor, and struggle to distinguish between packaging of the intended genome or unwanted side-products. Here we show that Orbitrap-based charge-detection mass spectrometry allows the very sensitive quantification of all these different AAV bioprocessing products. A protocol is presented that allows the quantification of genome-packed AAV preparations in under half an hour, requiring only micro-liter quantities of typical AAV preparations with ∼1013 viral capsids per milliliter. The method quickly assesses the integrity and amount of genome packed AAV particles to support AAV bioprocessing and characterization of this rapidly emerging class of advanced drug therapies.

Bioconversion of Whey Lactose into Microbial Exopolysaccharides

Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the bioconversion of whey lactose into microbial exopolysaccharides (EPS). It also emphasizes challenges facing the fermentation process as well as the criteria to be considered to develop it into an effective and valuable bioconversion process. Microbial EPS such as xanthan gum and alginate continue to receive increasing applications in response to the demands for desirable product texture and enhanced processibility of nutritional and healthful food products. These polymers require simple sugars as building blocks and are produced via natural fermentation processes using specific microorganisms. The inherent specificity of the enzymes involved and the controllability of a bioprocess make bioconversion into EPS an ideal candidate for the effective utilization of whey lactose. Bioconversion is considered the most feasible means to effectively transform milk lactose from a low-value feedstock into value-added products. However, the direct fermentation of lactose by participating microorganisms usually suffers from a limited conversion rate as is found in yeast fermentation. The utilization of lactose as the building blocks for the synthesis of microbial EPS thus appears to be a favorable option. Microbial EPS already have many important applications in food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries, and they continue to find new uses in emerging markets.

Bioprocess digital twins of mammalian cell culture for advanced biomanufacturing

Abstract: Today’s biomanufacturing processes are still operated based on experience, and thus can hardly cope with increasing bioprocess complexity. Recently, there is a growing interest in industrial applications of the digital twins (DT) which integrate physical and virtual systems via real-time data monitoring, thus enabling their interactive communications for the enhanced operational efficiency towards advanced biomanufacturing. We suggest that bioprocess DT of cell cultures can be developed by incorporating in-line monitoring, advanced data analytics with machine and deep learning, and mechanistic models representing the mammalian cells and bioreactor for virtually mirroring their behaviors under adjustable process conditions. In this review, we summarize and highlight recent advances in the key components within bioprocess DT platform and discuss the current challenges with future research direction.