Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology Course

Lesson 1 • Biochemistry of Metabolism

Explains central metabolic pathways including glycolysis, TCA cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. Links metabolic flux to product yield and process efficiency.

Lesson 2 • Microbial Diversity and Selection

Surveys bacteria, fungi, algae, and mammalian cells as production hosts. Guides rational selection of organisms for specific bioprocesses.

Lesson 3 • Thermodynamics and Stoichiometry of Growth

Applies thermodynamic principles and elemental balances to microbial growth. Enables quantitative prediction of biomass and product formation.

Lesson 4 • Introduction to Biotechnology Principles

Covers the definition, scope, and historical milestones of biotechnology. Provides the conceptual baseline for all subsequent bioprocess topics.

Lesson 1 • Experimental Design for Kinetic Studies

Covers batch, fed-batch, and chemostat experiments for parameter identification. Ensures students can design and interpret kinetic data collection experiments.

Lesson 2 • Product Formation Kinetics

Classifies products as growth-associated, non-growth-associated, or mixed. Connects product kinetics to process mode selection and optimisation.

Lesson 3 • Unstructured Kinetic Models

Introduces Monod, Contois, and inhibition kinetic models for growth and substrate uptake. Provides tools for predicting culture behaviour under varying conditions.

Lesson 4 • Structured and Cybernetic Models

Introduces intracellular compartment models and cybernetic frameworks for complex behaviour. Prepares students for advanced metabolic modelling applications.

Lesson 1 • Batch and Continuous Media Sterilisation

Compares in-situ batch sterilisation with continuous high-temperature short-time systems. Guides selection based on nutrient degradation and throughput requirements.

Lesson 2 • Contamination Detection and Response

Introduces rapid detection methods for bacterial, fungal, and phage contamination. Enables timely corrective action to protect batch integrity.

Lesson 3 • Air and Gas Sterilisation

Covers depth filtration and membrane filtration for sterile air supply to bioreactors. Ensures reliable aseptic aeration throughout the process.

Lesson 4 • Principles of Sterilisation Kinetics

Applies first-order death kinetics and the Del factor to thermal sterilisation design. Provides the quantitative basis for sterilisation cycle calculations.

Lesson 1 • Bioreactor Types and Configurations

Surveys stirred-tank, bubble column, airlift, packed-bed, and membrane bioreactors. Connects reactor geometry to mass transfer and mixing performance.

Lesson 2 • Mixing and Agitation Engineering

Analyses impeller types, power input, and mixing time in stirred vessels. Links agitation parameters to culture homogeneity and shear stress.

Lesson 3 • Heat Transfer and Temperature Control

Covers metabolic heat generation, jacket and coil design, and temperature control strategies. Maintains optimal culture temperature across scales.

Lesson 4 • Instrumentation and Process Control

Introduces sensors for pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and foam, plus PID control loops. Enables automated bioreactor operation and data acquisition.

Lesson 5 • Operating Modes: Batch, Fed-Batch, Continuous

Compares batch, fed-batch, and continuous operation strategies for productivity and yield. Guides mode selection based on product type and process economics.

Lesson 1 • Scale-Up Principles and Criteria

Applies geometric, kinematic, and dynamic similarity criteria for bioreactor scale-up. Prepares students to translate lab results to pilot and production scale.

Lesson 2 • Fundamentals of Mass Transfer

Reviews Fick's laws, film theory, and two-film resistance models for gas-liquid transfer. Provides the theoretical basis for oxygen and CO2 transfer calculations.

Lesson 3 • Foam Formation and Control

Explains foam generation mechanisms and antifoam agent selection in aerated bioreactors. Prevents foam-related contamination and volume loss.

Lesson 4 • Rheology of Fermentation Broths

Characterises Newtonian and non-Newtonian broth viscosity and its effect on mixing. Links rheological properties to power consumption and mass transfer.

Lesson 1 • High-Throughput Strain Screening

Describes microplate assays, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and robotic platforms for strain evaluation. Enables rapid identification of superior production strains.

Lesson 2 • CRISPR and Genome Editing Tools

Introduces CRISPR-Cas9, base editing, and prime editing for precise genome modification. Accelerates strain development cycles compared to classical mutagenesis.

Lesson 3 • Metabolic Flux Analysis

Applies stoichiometric flux balance analysis to map carbon flow and identify bottlenecks. Guides rational redirection of metabolic flux towards target products.

Lesson 4 • Recombinant DNA Technology in Bioprocessing

Reviews cloning, expression vectors, promoters, and selection markers for recombinant protein production. Connects molecular tools to production host engineering.

Lesson 1 • Cell Disruption and Harvest

Covers centrifugation, filtration, and mechanical disruption for biomass harvest and cell lysis. Connects harvest method to product location and stability.

Lesson 2 • Formulation and Final Product Processing

Addresses lyophilisation, spray drying, and excipient selection for bioproduct stabilisation. Ensures product stability and shelf life through formulation design.

Lesson 3 • Precipitation and Extraction

Applies salting-out, isoelectric precipitation, and aqueous two-phase extraction for initial purification. Reduces volume and removes bulk impurities early in the train.

Lesson 4 • Chromatographic Purification Methods

Introduces ion exchange, size exclusion, affinity, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Provides the primary tools for high-resolution bioproduct purification.

Lesson 1 • Regulatory Submission and Lifecycle Management

Covers biologic licence application structure, post-approval changes, and lifecycle management. Prepares students to navigate regulatory pathways for bioproducts.

Lesson 2 • Quality by Design in Bioprocessing

Applies Quality by Design principles including QTPP, CQA, CPP, and control strategy development. Links process parameters to product quality attributes systematically.

Lesson 3 • Technology Transfer from Lab to Plant

Covers process characterisation, design space definition, and documentation for technology transfer. Ensures reproducible performance at manufacturing scale.

Lesson 4 • Process Validation Principles

Applies prospective, concurrent, and retrospective validation approaches to bioprocesses. Demonstrates process consistency and product quality assurance.