Plant-based biopharmaceutical engineering.

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Plant Sciences
• Pharmaceutical Production

Background:

• Plants can be genetically engineered for recombinant protein production, termed molecular farming.
• This approach offers potential for rapid, global deployment of biopharmaceuticals with minimal cold-chain needs, enhancing equitable access.
• Current plant-based engineering utilizes genetic circuits for high-throughput expression of complex proteins.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review plant-based engineering strategies for biopharmaceutical production.
• To discuss expression systems, host selection, and vector design for producing complex proteins in plants.
• To highlight advancements in post-translational modification engineering and specific plant-produced biologics.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on plant-based biopharmaceutical production.
• Discussion of expression hosts (e.g., *Nicotiana benthamiana*), viral elements, and transient expression vectors.
• Examination of engineering strategies for post-translational modifications and the production of monoclonal antibodies and nanoparticles.

Main Results:

• Plant molecular farming demonstrates potential for cost-effective biopharmaceutical production compared to mammalian systems.
• Successful plant-based expression of complex biologics like monoclonal antibodies and virus-like particles has been achieved.
• Techno-economic analyses indicate a cost advantage for plant-based protein production.

Conclusions:

• Plant molecular farming is a promising platform for producing high-quality biopharmaceuticals.
• Engineering genetic circuits and optimizing expression systems are key to successful molecular farming.
• Addressing regulatory challenges is crucial for the widespread adoption of plant-based biopharmaceuticals.