Course Content: Fermentation Module

Collagen is the most prevalent structural protein in animals, found in all connective tissues such as skin, bone, and basement membranes. The demand for pure collagen will continue to increase as fields related to tissue engineering and medical treatment advance. Traditionally, animals have served as the primary, natural source of gelatinous products. However, the increasing demand for this product has lead industry to look for a bioprocess engineering solution to meet this demand.

The fermentation module introduces an industrial process for the production of a collagen-like polymer (CLP-3.1) in E. coli and covers the implementation and optimization of the process, as well as the quantification of collagen production. Students will begin with the construction of recombinant organisms for CLP-3.1 expression. The recombinant organisms will then be grown in computer-controlled fermentors and the product will be separated and characterized. Students will use a mass spectrometer for on-line gas analysis as well as HPLC to construct a carbon mass balance around the bioreactor.