DPS Group's William Whitford presented The Biologicalization of Medicine and Manufacturing at the SelectBio Conference: 3D Printing and Biofabrication 2020,  in Boston MA. 

The biologicalization (or the biological transformation) of manufacturing is essentially the use of digital manufacturing approaches (Industry 4.0) with biological and bio-inspired principles to support more efficient and sustainable manufacturing. It creates a biomimetic design – from reactions, equipment, and assemblies to materials, processes, and facilities. For example, Nobel Prize winner Frances H. Arnold invented systems directing the evolution of enzymes now routinely used in development catalysts in manufacturing. This approach to biologicalization of processes is dependent upon advances in biochemistry, many of the ‘omics, as well as genetic engineering. From another direction, advances in fermentation and cell-culture technologies are supplying a cell-based biologicalization of processes. Harmonization of digital principals with bio-integrated systems supports processes composed not only of biological chemistries but of engineered organoids, tissues, and cells. As supported by nano/micro-technology, cell-based systems can enable the goals of sustainability, economy, and efficiency in research and therapeutics.

Read the full presentation.