Beyond the lab: startups and companies making waves with Synthetic Biology

Synthetic biology combines the knowledge of life sciences and engineering to design and redesign biological systems and components. The main difference with other emerging biotechnologies lies in the implementation of the engineering cycle as a framework for biology, the DBTL cycle (Design, Build, Test, and Learn).

It has been described as a disruptive technology capable of delivering new and more sustainable solutions to different areas such as healthcare, agriculture, and the chemical industry. Due to its disruptive nature and dependence on the advancement of basic science, the development of synthetic biology projects might take time. Even though, we can find many biomolecules and biotechnologies standing out in different markets. Let’s find out.

1. Healthcare

The application of Synthetic Biology in healthcare is driving huge improvements not only in personalized medicine but also in the development of new tools and therapies.?

One remarkable application is xenotransplantation. The company United Therapeutics Corporation has been developing “Xenokidneys” from pigs that have been genetically engineered to be transplanted into patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).? While still under clinical trials, this is a great advancement on the state of art.?

Another technological trend is microbiome engineering for the development of synthetic probiotics. This is exactly what Synlogic , an American startup, has been working on. So-called "living therapies" are being tested for the treatment of various diseases and health conditions.

VYROBIO , a Brazilian startup, is pioneering a novel class of tumor-directed oncolytic immunotherapies for malignant central nervous system (CNS) tumors, both pediatric and adult. The company applies oncolytic viruses (OVs) based on the properties of the Zika virus.

2. Biomolecules?

By engineering living beings to improve production yield or even creating new metabolic pathways, we can produce biomolecules with industrial interest and in a cost-competitive process. While microorganisms are widely used in these applications, plants and mammalian cells could be great "hosts" for metabolic engineering depending on the target molecule.?

Despite the fact that biology is not easily predictable, new bioinformatics tools and IA have been applied to accelerate the development cycles. Companies such as Amyris , which produces biotechnological squalene and applies it on its own proprietary cosmetic brand Biossance, and Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc. , which developed an automatized pipeline for strain engineering, are changing the pace of the biotech industry.

michroma is a biotechnology platform that produces natural ingredients in a sustainable, scalable, and profitable way. Like a brewing process, precision fermentation allows us to produce high-value natural ingredients in a scalable way.

3. Advanced and Sustainable Materials

Synthetic biology is a key technology to support the development of more sustainable biopolymers and biomaterials.

Modern Meadow is a startup that uses biological engineering to engineer lightweight materials with superior color, performance, and durability. Its technology platform allows it to produce animal-free leather and other materials using engineered collagen, reducing the environmental impact of traditional animal agriculture

The development of biobased materials is the main focus of Checkerspot , a company that develops proprietary biomaterials, which can be used in a wide range of applications such as coatings, adhesives, and textiles.

Mi Terro? is a synthetic biology and advanced materials company that transforms biomass waste into hydrophilic biopolymers to kill off microplastics through precision fermentation – this is a one-of-a-kind approach.

4. Agriculture

Beyond GMO plants, the use of synthetic biology in agriculture has been rising in the past years.?

The startup Symbiomics has been using sequencing technologies, machine learning, and genome editing tools to design a new class of high-performance biologicals to increase crop productivity in a sustainable way.

Pivot Bio , based in California, is using biological engineering to develop a new approach to fertilizer. Its technology platform allows it to engineer microbes that can fix nitrogen from the air and provide it directly to crops, reducing the need for traditional fertilizers and their environmental impact.

Amfora is creating plant-based substitutes for animal protein and increasing the protein content of staple food crops. Through gene editing, the startup aims to regulate a genetic switch that controls the balance between protein and carbohydrates in all crops, increasing protein content.

Do you know these and other companies that are changing the pace of biotechnology worldwide? Share with us in the comments!

Reference: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2019.00175/full