Traditional vs Advanced Biomanufacturing Techniques

Biomanufacturing, like many other industries, has come a long way from its traditional methods. In simple terms, biomanufacturing refers to the use of biological systems (microorganisms, mammalian cells, and plants) for the production of therapeutic proteins, vaccines, and other products.

The invention of recombinant DNA technology in the mid-1970s paved the way for modern biotechnology and ushered in an era of advanced biomanufacturing techniques. Now, let's look at traditional vs advanced biomanufacturing techniques.

Traditional Biomanufacturing Techniques

Traditional biomanufacturing techniques refer to the old-school methods used for the production of therapeutic proteins and other molecules. These methods were primarily based on mammalian cell cultures or animal-derived products like blood.

Here are some of the most common traditional biomanufacturing techniques:

• Hybridoma technology: It is used to produce monoclonal antibodies, which are used to treat cancers and inflammatory diseases.
• Blood fractionation: It is used to isolate proteins, such as albumin and fibrinogen, from human and animal blood.
• Yeast and bacterial fermentation: These techniques are used to produce enzymes, antibiotics, and other small molecules.

Advanced Biomanufacturing Techniques

Advanced biomanufacturing techniques are based on modern biotechnology that utilizes genetic engineering, automation, and high-throughput screening, among other things.

Some of the most common advanced biomanufacturing techniques are:

• Cell culture-based methods: These methods use mammalian, insect, or plant cells to produce therapeutic proteins and other biological molecules.
• Recombinant DNA technology: It allows scientists to produce proteins and other molecules by manipulating the genetic code of living organisms.
• Bioreactor systems: They are used to grow cells, organisms, or tissues in a controlled environment, making the production process more efficient and reproducible.

Comparison

When comparing the traditional and advanced biomanufacturing techniques, several aspects require consideration, such as yields, cost-effectiveness, speed, and scalability.

Yields

Advanced biomanufacturing techniques provide higher yields than traditional methods. For instance, the yield of Erythropoietin (EPO) using cell culture-based methods is around 100 times higher than the yield obtained by blood fractionation techniques.

Cost-effectiveness

While advanced biomanufacturing techniques require high initial investments in infrastructure and equipment, they are more cost-effective in the long run. The cost of production using cell culture-based methods has significantly decreased over the past decade, making the technology more accessible to a broader range of users.

Speed

Advanced biomanufacturing techniques are faster than traditional techniques. For instance, it takes only a few days to produce large quantities of recombinant proteins using cell culture-based methods, while it can take months to isolate proteins using traditional methods like blood fractionation.

Scalability

Advanced biomanufacturing techniques are highly scalable and allow for consistent production of large quantities of biological molecules. On the other hand, traditional methods have limitations in scale-up because the yield decreases with the increase in the volume of production.

Conclusion

Traditional and advanced biomanufacturing techniques both have their advantages and disadvantages. While traditional methods have been used for decades, advanced biomanufacturing techniques offer several benefits such as higher yields, cost-effectiveness, speed, and scalability. Nonetheless, both methods play a crucial role in the biomanufacturing industry, with traditional methods still being essential in some cases.

References

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