Advances and Challenges in Bioprocess Optimization for the Synthesis of Sugar Nucleotides

Sugar nucleotides represent the cornerstone building blocks for glycan biosynthesis. While methods to access these crucial biomolecules using traditional batch synthetic chemistry and enzymatic approaches have blossomed, uptake using flow-based synthesis is burgeoning. This perspective analyzes recent advances concerning enzyme immobilization and continuous flow biocatalysis for sugar nucleotide production and usage. Evaluation of related technologies is also discussed, highlighting new enzyme immobilization approaches, novel reactor design, and improved downstream processing as areas that must evolve to enable wider, scalable access to sugar nucleotides as commodity chemicals.