Biocatalysis: an enabling technology for pharmaceutical chemistry

The application of biocatalysis in pharmaceutical synthesis has grown in an attempt to improve the sustainability and greenness of production processes. To meet the demands of practical applications, biocatalysts with superior action, specificity, thermal stability, and solvent tolerance are in great demand. This review examines advanced screening techniques and enzyme engineering procedures for identifying and developing enzymes for synthetic applications. A broad overview of biocatalytic techniques in pharmaceutical chemistry is given, followed by a methodical description of the specific uses of these techniques in pharmaceutical synthesis, with an emphasis on the production of various bioactive compounds, including those that exhibit antiviral, anticancer, neuroprotective, cardiovascular-protective, antibacterial, and antiparasitic activities. With an emphasis on the use of procedures for preparative-scale syntheses, this work attempts to review current developments in the pharmaceutical application of biocatalysis across early and late stages of research.