Progress in Bio-manufacturing

In this paper we made a thorough and system- atic expatiation of the definition,connotation and composition of bio-manufacture.Based on the dif- ferent development stages and process of bioengi- neering,its main research direction and correspond- ing researches were reviewed.Furthermore,from the viewpoint of disciplinary crossing,integration and development,the main technological develop- ment direction of bio-engineering in the coming years was pointed out.

New Method of Manufacturing Micro Parts Using Thiobacillus Ferrooxidans

A new method of processing and manufacturing certain parts of instruments through biological approach is studied. Knowledge of feasibility of micro-manufacturing is obtained by comparing experimental results of etching surfaces of copper, aluminium alloy, brass, steel and stainless steel using strain of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans （ T. f. ）. Our experimental results show that certain metals can be etched using T. f., the most feasible material is copper, followed by brass, etc., with stainless steel the least. The surface of the stainless steel material is nearly unchanged during surface-etching. Micro parts made of copper or brass can be satisfactorily processed with T.f. and the rate of processing on copper is about 14 μm/h. Furthermore, surface roughness and processing speed are controlled by pH value and temperature of etching liquid, in addition to swing rate of the the swing bed.

Magnetization of microorganism cells by thermal decomposition method

The bio-limited forming technology, a new technology organically integrating microbiology, manufacturing science and materials science, is used in the manufacturing of magnetic or conductive microstructures of different standard shapes. This paper explores the feasibility of magnetizing microorganism with thermal decomposition method. The principle of thermal decomposition of iron pentacarbonyl has been adopted to investigate the cells of Spirulina (a type of nature micro-helical microorganism) coated with pure iron. Further analysis have been conducted on the observations results of hollow micro-helical magnetic particles form, components and the phase structure obtained by using various tools including optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray detector (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). Results showed that Spirulina cells could be coated with iron particles after the completion of thermal decomposition process, with well-kept shape of natural helixes and consistent components of different sampling points on the surface layer and thickness of layer. After the heat treatment at 700°C, the type of the surface iron layer formed was α-Fe. The paper also investigates the kinetics of the cell magnetization technology by thermal decomposition.

Complex natural product production methods and options

Natural products have had a major impact upon quality of life,with antibiotics as a classic example of having a transformative impact upon human health.In this contribution,we will highlight both historic and emerging methods of natural product bio-manufacturing.Traditional methods of natural product production relied upon native cellular host systems.In this context,pragmatic and effective methodologies were established to enable widespread access to natural products.In reviewing such strategies,we will also highlight the development of heterologous natural product biosynthesis,which relies instead on a surrogate host system theoretically capable of advanced production potential.In comparing native and heterologous systems,we will comment on the base organisms used for natural product biosynthesis and how the properties of such cellular hosts dictate scaled engineering practices to facilitate compound distribution.In concluding the article,we will examine novel efforts in production practices that entirely eliminate the constraints of cellular production hosts.That is,cell free production efforts will be introduced and reviewed for the purpose of complex natural product biosynthesis.Included in this final analysis will be research efforts made on our part to test the cell free biosynthesis of the complex polyketide antibiotic natural product erythromycin.