From Microbe Selection to Commercial Scale-Up
Fermentation may have ancient roots, but today it’s spearheading breakthroughs across healthcare, nutrition, and sustainability.
Whether it’s therapeutic enzymes, precision-fermented ingredients, biodegradable materials, or alternative proteins, microbial fermentation sits at the forefront of modern bio-innovation.
Despite rapid advances in microbial biotechnology, bridging the gap between lab-scale experiments and commercial viability remains a significant hurdle. Microbial fermentation often defines the success or failure of innovative products.
At Isomerase, our UK-based team specialises in offering end-to-end microbial fermentation services. From choosing and refining microbial strains through pilot-scale fermentation and downstream processing, we deliver robust, commercially scalable solutions ready for tech transfer.
Our tailored microbial fermentation services include:
- Proprietary pre-engineered strains - IsoChassis®
- Bespoke strain engineering
- High-throughput microtiter analytical screening - HiMASS
- Stirred-tank fermentation evaluations
- Quality by Design (QbD) strategies for process robustness
- Integrated downstream process development
- Technology transfer support to manufacturing partners
We help UK biotech, pharmaceutical, and food-tech firms move efficiently from concept to commercial readiness.
Our Step-by-Step Microbial Fermentation Workflow
1. Strain Selection and Development
We initiate fermentation projects by selecting optimal microbial hosts tailored specifically for your target molecule. Our expertise covers both genetically modified (GM) and non-GM strategies, including proprietary platforms using Escherichia coli, Pichia pastoris (Komagataella phaffii), Bacillus subtilis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, designed to achieve high yields and consistent performance at scale.
Our team also has considerable experience working with other industrially significant microbes such as Aspergillus, Trichoderma, and Pseudomonas species, ensuring adaptability across diverse production requirements.
2. High-Throughput Analytical Screening (HiMASS)
Our proprietary HiMASS system accelerates microbial fermentation development through parallel micro-scale cultures, simulating full-scale stirred-tank fermentation conditions. This high-throughput system rapidly identifies top-performing microbial strains and optimised fermentation conditions, significantly reducing development timelines and project risks.
By delivering relevant insights at a micro-scale, HiMASS facilitates faster and more reliable scale-up.
3. Scaling from Screening to Commercial Processes
Reliable scale-up is central to fermentation success. We identified high-performing strains in controlled bench-scale bioreactors (from 1 to 30 litres) to fine-tune key parameters, including feed strategy, oxygen supply, agitation, and pH control.
Our Quality by Design approach rigorously defines and monitors critical process parameters, ensuring each fermentation stage is robust, reproducible, and seamlessly transferable to commercial manufacturing.
4. Integrated Downstream Development
Our microbial fermentation services extend beyond yield improvement. We align upstream processes closely with downstream purification requirements, covering:
- Clarification and filtration optimisation
- In-process analytics (SDS-PAGE, HPLC)
- Efficient purification strategies
- Ensuring batch-to-batch consistency
- Comprehensive tech transfer documentation (SOPs, batch records)
This integrated methodology ensures a smooth transition and reduced risks when scaling to commercial production.
Why UK Biotech Companies Choose Isomerase
Microbial fermentation must be robust, scalable, and commercially viable. Our science-driven approach, informed by targeted experimental design, ensures rapid optimisation without unnecessary complexity. Once established, our team provides detailed tech-transfer documentation to support internal production scale-up or external manufacturing partnerships.
From biotechnology startups and pharmaceutical enterprises to innovative food-tech and synthetic biology firms, Isomerase is trusted across the UK for reliable end-to-end microbial fermentation development.
Contact us today to discuss our microbial fermentation services.