Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026
09:27
Immobilization of Multi-biocatalysts in Alginate Beads for Cofactor Regeneration and Improved Reusability
Published on: April 22, 2016
17.1K
Kinetic models in industrial biotechnology - Improving cell factory performance
Joachim Almquist1, Marija Cvijovic2, Vassily Hatzimanikatis3
1Fraunhofer-Chalmers Centre, Chalmers Science Park, SE-412 88 Göteborg, Sweden; Systems and Synthetic Biology, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden.
Metabolic Engineering
|April 22, 2014
Summary
Kinetic models enhance industrial biotechnology by enabling rational design of cell factories. While challenges remain, these mathematical models offer detailed understanding and prediction for optimizing bioprocesses.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Biochemical Engineering
- Systems Biology
Background:
- Industrial bioprocesses utilize living cells as "cell factories" for chemical and protein production.
- Mathematical models are crucial for improving the performance of these cell factories.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current status of kinetic cell factory modeling in industrial biotechnology.
- To highlight the importance of kinetic models for rational design and process optimization.
Main Methods:
- Review of modeling methodology concepts: network structure, kinetic rate expressions, parameter estimation, optimization, identifiability analysis, model reduction, and validation.
- Discussion of applications of kinetic models for cell factory improvement.
Main Results:
- Kinetic models offer a comprehensive representation of cellular biochemistry, enabling detailed understanding and prediction.
- These models can guide the rational design of cell factory properties and bioprocesses.
Conclusions:
- Kinetic modeling is a powerful tool for industrial biotechnology, despite ongoing challenges for routine application.
- Further development and validation are needed to fully realize the potential of kinetic models in optimizing cell factories and bioprocesses.
Keywords:
Cell factoryDynamic modelsIndustrial biotechnologyKinetic modelsMathematical modelingParameter estimationMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:22Bioreactor Controls-III
67
Strain improvement is a foundational strategy in industrial microbiology aimed at maximizing microbial productivity, particularly because natural isolates typically yield commercially valuable products in very low concentrations. Although optimizing the culture medium and environmental conditions can improve yields, these adjustments are inherently limited by the organism’s genetic potential. As a result, the focus shifts toward genetic modifications to enhance biosynthetic capacity. The...
67
01:18Bioreactor Controls-II
76
In aerobic fermentations, oxygen is vital for microbial growth and metabolite production. Since air comprises only about 20% oxygen and the gas is poorly soluble in water—just 9 ppm at 20°C—supplying sufficient oxygen becomes a critical challenge, especially in high-demand processes like yeast growth or citric acid production. Even a fully saturated broth may offer only a few seconds of oxygen availability.To address this, sterile or scrubbed air is introduced into the...
76
01:14Scale-Up Processes
105
The scale-up of microbial fermentation processes is essential in industrial biotechnology, allowing the transition from laboratory-scale experiments to commercial-scale production while aiming to maintain product yield and quality. This process requires meticulous adjustment of equipment design, process parameters, and contamination control strategies to accommodate increasing culture volumes.At the laboratory scale, cultures are typically maintained in 1 to 10-liter glass or autoclavable...
105
01:30Designing Growth Media for Bioreactors
78
Growth media provide essential nutrients that support cell growth and metabolism, thereby enhancing the yield of valuable products such as enzymes, antibiotics, and biomass. Designing an effective growth medium involves balancing all components to prevent nutrient limitations or toxic excesses, both of which can impair growth and reduce product yields.Composition of a Typical Growth MediumA typical growth medium contains carbon and nitrogen sources, salts, vitamins, trace elements, and...
78
01:27Upstream Processing
97
Upstream processing represents a critical phase in biomanufacturing, wherein biological systems such as microorganisms, mammalian cells, or insect cells are cultivated to produce therapeutic proteins, vaccines, enzymes, or other biologically derived products. This phase encompasses all steps from the selection and genetic manipulation of the production organism to the cultivation of cells in bioreactors under tightly controlled environmental conditions.Host Selection and Genetic OptimizationThe...
97
01:29Bioreactor Design and Operational System
200
Bioreactors are engineered vessels designed to cultivate microorganisms under controlled conditions for industrial bioprocessing. They maintain sterility and allow precise regulation of pH, temperature, oxygen, and nutrient levels to optimize microbial growth and metabolite production. Bioreactors range from small laboratory units of 1 liter to industrial systems holding up to 500,000 liters, though only about 75% of their volume is actively used for fermentation. The remaining headspace...
200