Bioprocessering

Bioprocessering, also known as bioprocessing, is the production of biologically based products using living cells, microorganisms, or enzymes. The field combines biotechnology with chemical engineering and covers research, development, scale-up, and production of products across healthcare, agriculture, and industry. The goals are high product yield and purity, reliable performance, and cost-effective, compliant operation.

Bioprocessing encompasses upstream and downstream processing. Upstream processing involves cultivating the biological system in bioreactors under controlled conditions, using batch, fed-batch, or continuous operation. The choice of host—bacteria, yeasts, mammalian cells, or plant cells—and the growth medium influence growth and product formation. Downstream processing retrieves and purifies the product through clarification, filtration, chromatography, and final formulation. The two stages are tightly integrated to maximize yield and quality.

Applications include biopharmaceuticals such as vaccines and monoclonal antibodies, industrial enzymes, food ingredients and supplements, and increasingly bio-based fuels and chemicals. Advances in cell culture and fermentation technologies enable rapid development and scale-up, while regulatory requirements ensure safety, quality, and traceability of products.

Quality and process control are central, with approaches such as Process Analytical Technology (PAT) and Quality by Design (QbD) used to monitor critical parameters in real time. Compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and other regulatory frameworks is required for products intended for human or animal use. Challenges include scale-up, contamination control, cost management, and environmental impact, as well as the need for skilled personnel and robust supply chains to enable sustainable production.