Biocatalysis Process Development Services
Biocatalytic Route Design and Feasibility
Decide whether an enzyme can replace a chemical step before you commit to it.
What Biocatalytic Route Design Is
Biocatalysis uses enzymes as protein catalysts whose active site enables selective chemical transformations, typically under mild aqueous conditions and at or near room temperature. Because the active site controls how a substrate is bound and converted, enzymatic transformations are commonly selective and can deliver enantioselectivity and regioselectivity that are difficult to achieve with conventional chemistry.
Biocatalytic route design and feasibility is the work that happens before a process is committed: identifying or engineering an enzyme that can catalyze the desired bond formation or functional-group conversion, then testing whether that enzyme actually performs on your real substrate and whether the reaction can be scaled into a practical, greener synthesis pathway.
For process chemistry and R&D groups, the question is rarely "is biocatalysis interesting?" It is "can this specific step be replaced, and what would it take?" That is the question this service is built to answer, with data rather than opinion.
Substrate and Target-Molecule Analysis
We start from your target molecule and the step you want to change, mapping where an enzymatic transformation could substitute for a chemical reduction or open a new route.
- Review of the existing synthetic scheme and the candidate step
- Assessment of substrate structure against known enzyme classes
- Identification of selectivity or protecting-group problems biocatalysis could relieve
Enzyme Selection and Engineering
Enzymes are no longer limited to a handful of workhorse classes. Modern process biocatalysis draws on oxidoreductases, hydrolases, transferases, and cofactor-recycling systems, and where a wild-type enzyme falls short, engineering can adapt the protein scaffold.
- Selection from natural and engineered enzyme collections
- Engineering for activity, selectivity, or stability when needed
- In silico analysis to guide mutation and library design
Feasibility Data, Not Guesswork
Feasibility work tests whether the enzyme performs on the actual substrate and whether the reaction can be scaled. The output is a documented read on technical viability and the parameters that matter for the next stage.
- Small-scale reaction screening on the real substrate
- Conversion and selectivity measured by validated analytics
- Clear go / no-go read with the conditions that drive it
| Decision factor | What we evaluate | Why it changes the route | Typical output |
|---|---|---|---|
| Route fit | Target molecule, candidate step, substrate structure | Determines whether an enzymatic step can substitute or enable a new route | Route analysis summary with candidate transformations |
| Selectivity profile | Chemo-, regio-, and enantioselectivity of the candidate enzyme | Drives purity, chiral resolution needs, and downstream burden | Measured selectivity data on the real substrate |
| Reaction conditions | We evaluate pH, temperature, solvent, and the cofactor and cofactor-recycling needs of the candidate enzyme. | Sets equipment, safety, and waste-handling requirements | Condition windows that give usable conversion |
| Analytical readiness | Conversion and purity methods for the biocatalytic step | Without reliable analytics, screening results are not decision-grade | Transferred or newly developed assay and QC methods |
| Scale-up feasibility | Enzyme form, catalyst loading, mixing, and downstream isolation | Determines whether the route survives transfer beyond the bench | Preliminary scale-up and process feasibility assessment |
| Sustainability | Solvent, energy, and metal-content comparison against the chemical step | Supports greener-route claims and regulatory positioning | Qualitative comparison against the incumbent chemistry |
How Engagement Works
Projects move through a defined sequence: a rapid proof-of-concept phase that identifies the first hits, followed by optimization of the enzyme and the reaction toward scale-up. Scope, screening depth, and validation depth are defined in the project SOW after the initial feasibility discussion.
Feasibility study and proposal
We evaluate whether biocatalysis is a credible option for the targeted chemical reaction, review the substrate and existing route, and prepare a scoped proposal covering the work plan and decision points.
Enzyme selection and sourcing
Candidate enzymes are selected specifically for the target, drawing on natural and engineered collections and, where relevant, on enzyme families known to act on comparable substrates or to support cofactor recycling.
Expression and analytical method setup
Selected enzymes are produced in a suitable expression system, and the analytical method is either transferred from your team or developed so that a reliable screening assay can be built on it.
Screening assay development and miniaturization
The assay is adapted to miniaturized reaction formats so that a large number of enzymes and reaction conditions can be tested in parallel, with conversion and selectivity read out consistently.
What Can Be Customized
Every route is different, so scope is set case by case rather than from a fixed menu. The table below describes the parameters that are typically adjustable; the exact combination is agreed in the project SOW.
Where a project needs a capability beyond the initial scope, we discuss it at the milestone review rather than forcing it into a predefined bundle.
Screening Breadth and Depth
The number of enzymes and conditions tested is scoped to the difficulty of the transformation and the maturity of the starting point.
- Enzyme panel sized to the target and substrate class
- Miniaturized formats to test many conditions in parallel
- Iterative rounds when initial hits need refinement
Enzyme Engineering Strategy
When a non-natural reaction is targeted, wild-type enzymes sometimes have to be improved to reach performance compatible with industrialization.
- Semi-rational design combining in silico modeling with variant screening
- Targeted modification of residues around the active site
- Adaptation for temperature, solvent, or salt tolerance as required
Reaction and Process Optimization
Once hits are identified, conditions are refined toward a process that can be transferred, including the enzyme-to-substrate and cofactor balance.
- Primary and secondary physicochemical parameter screening
- Design of Experiments where the parameter space warrants it
- Immobilization or formulation considered for reuse and stability
| Parameter | Typical project scope | Notes | Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Route analysis | Target molecule and candidate step review; route-fit assessment | Includes comparison against the incumbent chemical step | A named scientific contact is assigned at project start, milestone review calls are scheduled, and email inquiries receive a response within 1 business day. |
| Enzyme sourcing | Selection from natural and engineered collections, scoped to the target | Panel size agreed in the SOW based on substrate difficulty | A named scientific contact is assigned at project start, milestone review calls are scheduled, and email inquiries receive a response within 1 business day. |
| Enzyme engineering | Semi-rational design and variant screening when wild-type performance is insufficient | Applied selectively, not as a default first step | A named scientific contact is assigned at project start, milestone review calls are scheduled, and email inquiries receive a response within 1 business day. |
| Screening | Miniaturized reaction screening across enzymes and conditions | Assay built on transferred or newly developed analytics | A named scientific contact is assigned at project start, milestone review calls are scheduled, and email inquiries receive a response within 1 business day. |
| Reaction optimization | The team refines pH, temperature, solvent, and cofactor balance as part of reaction optimization. | Design of Experiments applied where the parameter space warrants it | A named scientific contact is assigned at project start, milestone review calls are scheduled, and email inquiries receive a response within 1 business day. |
| Analytical QC | Conversion and purity methods for the biocatalytic step | Method transfer or development, agreed per project | A named scientific contact is assigned at project start, milestone review calls are scheduled, and email inquiries receive a response within 1 business day. |
| Scale-up feasibility | Preliminary assessment of enzyme form, loading, isolation, and transfer | Includes immobilization or formulation options for reuse | A named scientific contact is assigned at project start, milestone review calls are scheduled, and email inquiries receive a response within 1 business day. |
| Sustainability review | Qualitative comparison of solvent, energy, and metal content against the chemical route | Supports greener-route positioning | A named scientific contact is assigned at project start, milestone review calls are scheduled, and email inquiries receive a response within 1 business day. |
Deliverables and Documentation
Deliverables are defined in the SOW and typically include the data and documentation needed to make a route decision and to plan the next stage of development.
Where a project progresses to process development, documentation is prepared to support transfer and further scale-up work.
Feasibility Readout
A documented assessment of whether the biocatalytic step is technically viable for the target, with the conditions and enzyme candidates that support the conclusion.
- Conversion and selectivity data on the real substrate
- Identified hits and the conditions that produced them
- Clear statement of remaining technical risk
Enzyme and Sample Supply
Enzyme material and, where scoped, compound supply to support your own follow-up studies, with analytical documentation accompanying supplied material.
- Enzyme material at the quantity agreed in the SOW
- Compound supply with analytical documentation where scoped
- Support for your own internal evaluation work
Process Documentation
Process documentation and support for transfer are typical outcomes of a collaboration, tailored to the receiving site and the stage of development.
- Process description covering conditions and parameters
- Support for scale-up facility assessment where scoped
- Documentation aligned to the agreed project milestones
Comparison With the Chemical Step
The comparison below reflects the general characteristics of biocatalytic versus conventional chemical transformations. Actual outcomes depend on the specific substrate, enzyme, and process, and are established during feasibility work rather than assumed.
Where a biocatalytic route does not show a credible advantage, the feasibility assessment will say so.
| Aspect | Biocatalytic route | Conventional chemical step | What feasibility work establishes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selectivity | Active-site control commonly delivers chemo-, regio-, and enantioselectivity | Selectivity often requires ligands, protecting groups, or chiral resolution | Measured selectivity on the real substrate |
| Conditions | Typically mild aqueous conditions at or near room temperature | Often elevated temperature, anhydrous solvent, or metal complexes | Condition window that gives usable conversion |
| Solvent and waste | Water as the major solvent; enzymes are biodegradable catalysts | Hazardous and fossil-fuel-dependent solvents are common | Qualitative solvent and waste comparison |
| Metal content | No or residual metal content required | Transition-metal catalysts and ligands drive cost and supply dependency | Assessment of metal-related constraints for the target |
| Step count | Enzymes can combine multiple synthetic steps, including cascades in one pot | Multi-step sequences with intermediate isolation | Route comparison at the scheme level |
| Development path | Requires enzyme selection or engineering and process optimization | Established unit operations and known scale-up behavior | Realistic development effort and risk profile |
Where This Fits
This service is most useful when a specific step is under pressure, whether from selectivity problems, solvent or waste constraints, or supply dependency on a metal catalyst.
It is also used earlier, when a route is still being designed and the team wants to know whether an enzymatic option is worth building into the scheme.
Replacing a Chemical Reduction
When a reduction step is costly, poorly selective, or hard to control, feasibility work tests whether an enzymatic alternative can deliver the required selectivity under milder conditions.
- Assessment against the existing step's selectivity profile
- Cofactor and recycling requirements evaluated early
- Comparison of conditions and downstream impact
Enabling a New Synthetic Route
Some target molecules are difficult to reach with conventional chemistry. Enzyme catalysis can open transformations that are impractical or uneconomical by other means.
- Evaluation of non-natural transformations
- Engineering applied where wild-type enzymes fall short
- Route design from target molecule backward to catalyst
NAD(P)H Regeneration and Cofactor Strategy
Many oxidoreductase-based steps depend on cofactor supply. Feasibility work addresses cofactor requirements and recycling as part of the route rather than as a separate problem.
- Cofactor needs identified during route analysis
- Recycling options considered alongside the main transformation
- Impact on process economics assessed qualitatively
Getting Started
Engagement typically begins with a feasibility discussion covering the target molecule, the step under consideration, and any analytical methods already in place. From there, a scoped proposal is prepared with defined decision points.
Confidentiality is established before detailed route information is exchanged, so early discussions can be specific rather than generic.
FAQ
How do you decide whether an enzymatic route is worth pursuing?
We start from the target molecule and the specific step in question, then assess whether a known enzyme class can plausibly act on that substrate and deliver the required selectivity. If the answer is not clear from existing enzyme families, we look at whether engineering could close the gap. The feasibility study is designed to give a documented read on technical viability rather than a general opinion on biocatalysis.
What happens if no natural enzyme works on our substrate?
That is a common situation, particularly for non-natural transformations. When wild-type enzymes do not reach performance compatible with industrialization, enzyme engineering can adapt the protein scaffold to the target substrate or to the required conditions, such as temperature or salt tolerance. This is applied selectively, based on the screening results, rather than as a default first step.
Do we need to supply an analytical method?
Not necessarily. If you provide a method, it can be transferred and used as the basis for the screening assay. If you do not have one, we develop an analytical method suitable for measuring conversion and selectivity, then adapt it to a miniaturized format so that a large number of enzymes and conditions can be tested in parallel.
How does cofactor supply affect feasibility?
For oxidoreductase-based steps, cofactor requirements are part of the route assessment rather than a separate consideration. Cofactor needs and recycling options are evaluated alongside the main transformation, because they influence catalyst loading, reaction design, and the practical viability of the step at scale. Where cofactor recycling is required, it is built into the process concept from the start.
Can the biocatalytic step be scaled beyond the bench?
Scale-up feasibility is assessed as part of the work, covering enzyme form, catalyst loading, mixing, and downstream isolation. Where immobilization or formulation would improve reuse and stability, that is considered during optimization. The output is a preliminary assessment of whether the route can be transferred, together with the parameters that need attention at larger scale.
How is the work scoped and reported?
Scope is defined case by case in the project SOW, covering screening breadth, engineering effort, analytics, and validation depth. Reporting is tied to agreed milestones, with a named scientific contact from project start, milestone review calls, and email response within one business day. Process documentation and transfer support are typical outcomes where a project progresses toward scale-up.
References
- Sardana M, Mühlfenzl KS, Wenker STM, et al. Exploring the enzyme-catalyzed synthesis of isotope labeled cyclopropanes. Journal of labelled compounds & radiopharmaceuticals. 2022;65(4):86-100. View on PubMed
- Liu Y, Li Y, Wu H, et al. Robust Oxidase-Mimetic Supramolecular Nanocatalyst for Lignin Biodegradation. Nano letters. 2024;24(8):2520-2528. View on PubMed
- Szerlauth A, Varga Á, Madácsy T, et al. Confinement of Triple-Enzyme-Involved Antioxidant Cascade in Two-Dimensional Nanostructure. ACS materials letters. 2023;5(2):565-573. View on PubMed
- Zhang W, Han Y, Yang F, et al. A customized self-assembled synergistic biocatalyst for plastic depolymerization. Journal of hazardous materials. 2024;477:135380. View on PubMed
- Zhang Z, Gao L, Boes A, et al. An enzymatic continuous-flow reactor based on a pore-size matching nano- and isoporous block copolymer membrane. Nature communications. 2024;15(1):3308. View on PubMed
Assess your route before you commit to it
Share the target molecule and the step you are considering, and we will outline a feasibility approach covering enzyme selection, selectivity, cofactor needs, and scale-up considerations.