The module aims to provide the student with the theoretical and practical fundamentals of the technology in biopharmaceutical production. The modules focuses on providing an understanding of how proteins are made and how they can be geneticaly engineered, and on key ares of the immune system. these biological sustems are then applied to upstream processes of biopharmaceutical production. The module also aims to provide the student with the theoretical and practical fundamentals of protein structure, isolation and purification.
Introduction to Biotechnology
Biotechnology - definition and scope, classical and modern biotechnology, impact of biotechnology on pharmaceutical industryBasic principles of gene expression:- From DNA to Proteins in prokaryotes and eukaryotesBasic principles of recombinant DNA technology:- Fundamentals of cloningUpstream Processing of BiopharmaceuticalsMicrobial Biotechnology:- Biopharmaceutical production of microbial cultures, growth kinetics, fermenters, scale-up and safetyAnimal Cell Biotechnology:- Rec DNA techniques in animal cells, large scale production using animal cell systems, scale-up and safety.
Fundamentals of protein Biochemistry
Protein Biochemistry:- Structure, bonding and frailtyProtein characteristics exploited in protein isolation and purification
Upstream processing
Media selection, reactor options, cloning and genetic engineering.
Downstream processing
Initial product recovery: Intracellular versus extracellular proteins, cell disruption techniques, inclusion bodies, formation and prevention.Protein concentration techniques:- Precipitation , filtration, Integrity testing.Protein separation techniques:- Chromatography(size-exclusion/ion-exchange/affinity/hydrophobic interaction)Contamination issues. Protein identification and purity determinations Design and evaluation of purification strategies. New technologies.
Practical Content
Lab Scale fermentation. Cross filtration for product isolation. Bench scale purification of a protein.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Other Assessment(s) | 40 |
| Formal Examination | 60 |