Research field

Biocatalysis

Biocatalysis exploits enzymes and whole microbial cells as catalysts for synthetic chemistry, enabling reactions under mild aqueous conditions with high selectivity and minimal environmental burden. The field drives the transition from traditional chemical synthesis to greener, more efficient industrial processes across pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, food ingredients, and biofuels. Key research areas include enzyme engineering by directed evolution and computational design, cofactor regeneration systems, whole-cell biocatalysis, immobilised enzyme reactors, and flow biocatalysis in continuous manufacturing. Transformative tools include machine-learning-guided protein design, high-throughput microfluidic screening, and cryo-electron microscopy for active-site characterisation. The pharmaceutical industry is a major driver, as enantioselective biocatalytic steps now feature in routes to blockbuster drugs. Public funding from the European Horizon programme and NIH, combined with substantial industrial R&D, sustains the field rapid growth.

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