Biocatalytic membrane reactors pharmaceutical application

Drioli, E. and Giorno, L. (1999) Biocatalytic Membrane Reactors Application in Biotechnology and the Pharmaceutical Industry, Taylor Francis Publisher, Padstow, UK. 

Applications of whole-cell biocatalytic membrane reactors, in the agro-food industry and in pharmaceutical and biomedical treatments are listed by Giorno and Drioli [3], Frazeres and Cabral [9] have reviewed the most important applications of enzyme membrane reactors such as hydrolysis of macromolecules, biotransformation of lipids, reactions with cofactors, synthesis of peptides, optical resolution of amino acids. Another widespread application of the membrane bioreactor is the wastewater treatment will be discussed in a separate section. 

Table 8.9, 8.10 and 8.11 show the industrial application of enzymes, the application of biocatalytic membrane reactors in the agro-food industry, and the application of biocatalytic membrane reactors in pharmaceutical and biomedical treatments, respectively. 

Table 8.11. Applications of biocatalytic membrane reactors in pharmaceutical and biomedical treatments [Refs in 410].

Biocatalytic membrane reactors principles, preparation and biotechnological, pharmaceutical and medical applications... 

Abstract Biocatalytic membrane reactors are widely used in different industrial applications including those of the food industry, and in fine chemical, biological, biomedical and pharmaceutical productions, environmental treatments and so on. The application of biocatalytic membrane reactors to research in these fields has an important effect on our daily lives, as well as on the professional environment concerned. This chapter considers the value of using biocatalytic membrane reactors, based on traditional and novel methods, for enzyme- and cell-immobilization moreover, characterization and assessment of their performance is carried out. Finally, the chapter describes their applications in biotechnology, such as hydrolysis, organic synthesis, production of bio-ethanol, pharmaceutical products, optical resolution and medical fields such as artificial organs. 

Biocatalytic membrane reactors can also be used in production, processing, and treatment operations. The trend toward environmentally friendly technologies makes these units particularly attractive because of their ability to operate at moderate temperature and pressure and to reduce the formation of by-products. Enzymes, compared to inorganic catalysts, generally permit greater stereospecificity and higher reaction rates under milder reaction conditions. Relevant applications of biocatalytic membrane reactors include production of new or better foodstuffs, in which desired nutrients are not lost during thermal treatment novel pharmaceutical products with well-defined enantiomeric compositions and wastewater processes. 

Key words biocatalytic membrane, membrane reactor, enzyme- and cell-immobilization, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, products, medical applications, production of bio-ethanol, artificial organs. 

---