Up-scaling and Downstream processing

The bryotechnology is based on the cultivation of the moss Physcomitrella patens in a fermenter. The moss protonema is grown under photoautotrophic conditions in a medium which consists essentially of water and minerals. Light and carbon dioxide serve as the only energy and carbon sources.

Cultivation in suspension allows up-scaling of the photobioreactors up to several 1000 L. Adaptation of existing technology for large scale cultivation of moss is done in co-operation with the Technical University of Karlsruhe, Prof. Posten. The present pilot reactor has a volume of 30 L. This project is supported by a BMBF grant. Next step for scale-up will be 100 L also fulfilling GMP criteria.

Bryotechnology simplifies Downstream Processing

Heterologous proteins, produced in moss protonema, are secreted into the medium. Downstream processing from this low salt medium involves fewer purification steps. Ion exchange chromatography will be a suitable first purification step for many proteins. The pH of the medium can also be adjusted within the range pH 4 to 8, which allows adaptation of the conditions to be optimal for the specific biopharmaceutical.

For the optimization of the downstream processing greenovation collaborates with Sartorius BBI Systems GmbH, an expert and technological leader in bioprocess technology.

In general both, the up-scaling as well as the downstream processing, in moss bioreactors need much lower investment costs compared to conventional production system using mammalian cell cultures.