Sequential and selective patterning of enzymes in modular electrochemical based biorreactor for continuos production of pharmaceutical materials

The pharmaceutical industry is a major industrial sector in the EU (annual sales of €130 billion).

In contrast to other manufacturing sectors, the sector faces a significant challenge in its reliance on batch processes, with synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) occurring via individual reaction steps.

Such an approach is not well suited to modern manufacturing methods, and reflects a gap in the state of the art in the manufacture of APIs, where flexible plug and play modular systems to manufacture the drug product from raw materials when they are needed reactors are required.

PATTENZYME will address this gap by using electrochemical approaches for the targeted and selective immobilization of bio/catalysts in modular 3D printed bio/reactors.

The project will utilise a multi-disciplinary approach that combine electrode preparation and characterisation, modelling of fluid flow and rates of reaction, enzyme immobilisation and characterisation with the preparation and characterisation of 3D printed flow reactors.

Specifically, PATTENZYME will immobilize laccase on high surface area supports in 3D-printed reactors for the production and controlled delivery of H2O2 to spatially patterned bio/catalysts for enantio/regio selective oxidation reactions with the goal of developing a bio/reactor for the enantioselective oxidation of omeprazol sulphide to esomeprazole.

The bio/catalysts will be immobilised on nanoporous gold electrodes at specific locations in the channels of the bio/reactor.

Detailed modelling and characterisation studies will be performed to ascertain the optimal location of the catalysts, the architecture of the channels and the flow rate. 3D printed prototype reactors will be produced and characterised to prepare the optimal system for the oxidation of omeprazol sulphide.

PATTENZYME will provide advanced training in a multidisciplinary training programme that is informed by leading expertise in the pharmaceutical sector.