The large-scale production of plant-derived secondary metabolites (PDSM) through bioreactors is crucial to meet the rising demand for bioactive compounds in various industries. Plant cell suspension culture (CSC) has emerged as a preferred technology due to its advantages over conventional extraction methods. Bioreactor configuration selection is key and is influenced by cell culture properties and operational factors impacting thermodynamics, kinetics, and transport phenomena. This review focuses on crucial bioactive compounds, especially those significant in pharmaceutical applications, highlighting the importance of PDSM obtained from CSC. It delves into the engineering considerations essential for bioreactor configuration in CSC to enhance cell viability and PDSM production.
Medicinal plants have long been utilized for various purposes, with a significant percentage of modern medicines derived from natural sources. The market for plant-derived drugs is expanding, underscoring the need for sustainable production methods like plant cell culture. PDSM, classified into terpenes, phenolic compounds, and nitrogen/sulfur compounds, play vital roles in pharmacology. However, the conventional extraction methods often lead to overexploitation and threaten plant species’ survival. Biotechnologies based on PCC offer sustainable alternatives, with CSC being a promising avenue for large-scale PDSM production.
Academia and industry are increasingly focusing on PCC for bioactive compound production, with CSC showing excellent scaling attributes. However, there’s a lack of information on bioreactor engineering for CSC, hindering its scaling up. Commercial production of drugs, cosmetics, and food ingredients using plant cell cultures, especially CSC, has gained momentum. Notable successes include the production of cancer drugs like Taxol® and Genexol from plant CSC. Bioreactors play a vital role in providing a controlled environment for optimal cell growth and metabolic activity, hence influencing PDSM production.
During the scaling up of CSC from laboratory to industrial scales, engineering aspects become critical. Factors like cell growth kinetics, viability rates, and transport phenomena play pivotal roles in enhancing PDSM production. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) offers a robust tool for optimizing operating conditions and maximizing yields. The bioreactor design must consider the complex interactions between kinetics, transport phenomena, and cell cultures. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models aid in designing industrial bioreactors by simulating fluid dynamics and transport mechanisms.
Operating variables, such as temperature and light, significantly impact bioreactor performance and PDSM production. Proper control of these variables is essential to prevent cell senescence and maintain high yields. Temperature control systems and irradiation methods play crucial roles in optimizing cell growth and PDSM production. Overall, a comprehensive understanding of engineering strategies in bioreactor design and operation is paramount for successful large-scale production of bioactive compounds from plant cell cultures.
Key Takeaways:
– Plant cell suspension culture offers sustainable and efficient methods for producing bioactive compounds.
– Bioreactor configuration selection is vital for enhancing cell viability and maximizing PDSM production.
– Engineering considerations, including temperature control and light irradiation, are crucial for optimizing bioreactor performance.
– Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) aid in designing and optimizing industrial bioreactors for large-scale PDSM production.
Read more on pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov