Application of Systems Engineering Principles to Bioprocessing

Dear Colleagues,

The Quality by Design initiative has supported the application of model-based tools in the biopharmaceutical industry with the aim of improving process understanding and moving towards the implementation of optimisation and control principles using process analytical technologies. In the past decade we have seen significant progress in the development of data-driven, knowledge-driven and hybrid models of both upstream and downstream processing, which have enhanced the exploration of the design space as well as quantifying relationships between process parameters and critical quality attributes for specific unit operations. At the same time, we have seen the emergence of Synthetic Biology, which has expanded our toolset for genetic modification of hosts with an increased degree of specificity, accuracy and control. This opens up new possibilities for model-based design of pathways and functionalities that can enhance bioprocess performance.

This special issue on “Application of Systems Engineering Principles to Bioprocessing” aims to curate novel advances in the development and application of computational modeling and model-based applications to address longstanding challenges in Bioprocessing. Topics include, but are not limited to:

• Modelling (mechanistic and data-driven) and optimisation of upstream and downstream unit operations;
• Implementation of online control strategies;
• Model-driven process design;
• Whole process simulation and analysis, including flowsheeting of novel manufacturing processes for new modalities or modular production;
• Model-based approaches to enhance the understanding and performance of cellular behaviour under industrial bioprocessing conditions, such as design of genetic and metabolic engineering strategies, and/or enable the analysis of large datasets, such as systems biology, machine learning and artificial intelligence appraoches.

Dr. Cleo Kontoravdi
Dr. Alexandros Kiparissides
Guest Editors

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