The institute's 100-liter fermentation tank. [Photo/WeChat account: whkfq]
Research-to-application transitions are being revolutionized at the Wuhan Microalgae Bio-Manufacturing Research Institute's pilot platform in Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone (WEDZ).
This platform, a joint endeavor by Jianghan University and WEDZ, has developed a comprehensive process chain that spans from algae strain selection to product extraction.
"Microalgae undergo a four-stage scale-up cultivation process at the facility, beginning with a seed tank and followed by three larger production tanks," said Liu Lianjie, a technician of the institute.
Liu added that this efficient operational model significantly reduces the R&D conversion cycle, which previously depended on external platforms and involved long waits for product validation.
Now, with complete process autonomy, the team can pursue multiple high-value targets simultaneously, accelerating R&D iterations and providing a crucial competitive advantage in the biopharmaceutical market.
The pilot platform has achieved significant breakthroughs in recombinant protein drugs and functional foods, completing five pilot fermentation batches involving several high-value microalgae products.
The recombinant hirudin product utilizes the Chlamydomonas cell platform, addressing "waste" issues associated with traditional E coli expression systems and resulting in purer, more easily extractable active proteins with high anticoagulant efficacy.
The institute's market presence has expanded into the bio-beauty, biopharmaceutical, and functional nutrition and health sectors, with several global cooperation agreements under negotiation and in the process of being signed.
Feng Li, head of the institute, said that the institute will continue to focus on green manufacturing in synthetic biology, aiming to utilize the technical advantages of microalgae heterotrophic fermentation to establish a full-chain green production system.
