{"id":19118,"date":"2025-09-16T18:02:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-16T18:02:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/?p=19118"},"modified":"2025-08-28T18:03:38","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T18:03:38","slug":"enhancing-biomanufacturing-automation-with-process-raman-spectroscopy-a-quick-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/enhancing-biomanufacturing-automation-with-process-raman-spectroscopy-a-quick-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Enhancing Biomanufacturing Automation with Process Raman Spectroscopy \u2013 A Quick Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Biomanufacturing: an introduction<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Biomanufacturing is the use of biological systems, like microorganisms or cells, to produce commercially valuable products. These products can include pharmaceuticals, food ingredients, biofuels, and more. Biomanufacturing intentionally applies biological processes (for example, fermentation) to transform raw materials into desired outputs (for example, to convert malt extract into beer). This often requires very specific conditions in order to be efficient and effective (to continue the example, strict temperature control and venting of unwanted gaseous by-products are essential to an acceptable final product).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In biomanufacturing, robust control strategies are essential to maintain desired performance and prevent instability or failure. Dynamic systems, such as bioreactors<\/a> <\/a>and ultrafiltration\/diafiltration (UF\/DF) systems, must be able to adapt to internal and external changes while continuing to produce optimal results. These bioprocess control strategies are particularly critical in high-stakes industries like biopharmaceuticals, aerospace, and chemical processing. They help ensure stability across varying conditions, maintain accuracy despite noise and disturbances, enable real-time decision-making, and optimize resource use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Automation can greatly enhance the effectiveness of biomanufacturing process control. Automated feedback from an analytical technique utilizing a process Raman analyzer<\/a> helps enable rapid adjustments to keep bioprocesses under control and within desired parameters. Various aspects of biomanufacturing processes and the use of Raman spectroscopy to enhance them are discussed here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Biomanufacturing quality control strategies<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Control strategies are divided into two broad categories, passive control and active control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Passive control relies on fixed parameters and assumes stable environments\u2014colloquially this might be called \u201cset it and forget it.\u201d Passive control strategies do not implement sensors in-line or at-line for monitoring or adjustments. As the name implies, passive control simply sets in place process parameters that were previously determined and trusts those settings to keep bioprocess conditions where they need to be without further intervention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Active control, on the other hand, dynamically adjusts system behavior using sensors, actuators, and controllers. There are two main types of active control strategies: open-loop and closed-loop (feedback) control. Open-loop systems execute predefined actions without making use of feedback, assuming predictable knowledge about the system model. Closed-loop systems continuously monitor outputs and, based on real-time feedback from various sensors, adjusts inputs as necessary to achieve the desired outputs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Active closed-loop feedback control<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Active closed-loop feedback control is necessary when handling complex, dynamic systems. It allows for adaptation to uncertainties and optimizes operational efficiency, while also ensuring stability and minimizing the effects of any external disturbances<\/em><\/strong>. These characteristics makes closed-loop feedback essential for robust and adaptive automation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Process Raman spectroscopy for bioprocess monitoring and control<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Raman spectroscopy<\/a> is an analytical technique that makes use of a laser light\u2019s interaction with a sample to provide molecular-level information. Raman spectroscopy is a non-destructive optical technique with unique advantages that make it ideal for active feedback control in bioprocessing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n