Using Fluorescence-Based Sensing to Accelerate Process Development

Bioprocesses have long been ubiquitous in the production of modern pharmaceuticals and drugs. Contemporary bioprocesses are being increasingly used in the production of many other products, ranging from biodegradable plastics, packing materials, and other throwaways, to non-fossil fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel, and commonly needed human spare parts such as artificial skin and cartilage. Fluorescence-based sensing technologies, which can greatly decrease overall development time, labor, and costs, become an increasingly useful tool, particularly because their use permits a degree of miniaturization, scalability, and multiplexing that was previously unavailable.