The metabolic engineering group at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) in Delhi, is working on the impact of microgravity in the International Space Station (ISS) on edible microalgae to capture the CO2 from the spacecraft cabin as well as recycle wastewater (undiluted urine) which contain NPK and plant growth hormone auxin and to grow photosynthetic microalgae as food while producing oxygen for the astronauts.
Shashi Kumar, the group leader, Metabolic Engineering (Biofuels and Industrial Biotechnology), at ICGEB explains that these edible microalgae are the source of vital nutrients (Carotenoids— astaxanthin, zeaxanthin, lutein—Vit A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, E) and provide sustainable food (proteins, fat, carbohydrates) for extended space expeditions for astronauts.
“Algae can thrive in any harsh conditions and even on Earth they can live for two billion years in any harsh condition. The edible algae producing astaxanthin, zeaxanthin and lutein have been shown to fight radiation damage and eye disease, and other common muscular weakness and health problems that astronauts may face in space,” said Kumar.
The group's objective is to do a comparative assessment of physiochemical and morphological changes due to microgravity on algal growth and metabolism in the International Space Station compared to Earth.
The aim is also to select one of the most robust strains suitable for future space missions and study if any genetic intervention is required to make them adaptable for space. “Comparative data will help to improve algae via genetic intervention for better survival in space and the production of novel molecules of industrial importance. Also, selection of robust alga for future use in space for sustainable food,” said Kumar.
The research got the thrust after the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), and Department of Space (DoS) signed the framework MoU on Cooperation in Space Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing. The Union cabinet had approved initiatives in the field of human space programme and biotechnology with the announcement of the establishment of a Bharatiya Antariksh Station and the unveiling of ‘BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy' for fostering high-performance biomanufacturing in the country.
This is expected to benefit the national human space programme as well as spur innovations and developments in the fields of human health research, novel pharmaceuticals, biotherapeutics, regenerative medicine, space foods, bio-based technologies for efficient waste management and recycling. Some novel biomanufacturing applications for space missions, include biomaterials for future space habitats, regenerative life support systems and bio-in situ resource utilization systems for fuel production for space missions.
As per a few scientists from DBT, the need for studying the effects of the space environment on the Indian population is also important as most of the published literature on human health in space are from other space agencies such as NASA, ESA, etc. “Currently, the key challenges of space missions are a continuous availability of nutrients, preservation of food, microgravity, radiation, physiological changes and health hazards in space travelers, potable water and a way clean and use waste in a sutainable way,” remarked a scientist. To address some of the space challenges, researchers from DBT-BRIC institutions are taking lead roles in different space physiology/space biomanufacturing projects through the ISRO-NASA and ISRO-ESA collaboration.
Besides testing the impact of microgravity on edible microalgae which has the ability to grow in wastewater and undiluted urine and also in adverse conditions, another proposal is to study the growth and proteomics responses of cyanobacteria growing on urea in microgravity. Then there is also a proposal as part of this MoU to study the adverse effects of space conditions on the physiology of the astronauts and how to mitigate them. “ Astronauts experience up to 20 per cent muscle loss in space flights lasting 5-11 days. However, muscle loss or Sarcopenia takes decades to develop on Earth. By using nutritional supplements in a muscle cell culture model, researchers are attempting to increase the mitochondrial function which is emerging as an important component in this condition,” explained a scientist from DBT.
As per DBT experts, the announcement of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station is expected to provide an excellent opportunity to undertake cutting-edge microgravity research and technology development based on our national priorities. It has also been projected that by 2050 commercial space travel is going to become a reality and Space habitat is being planned by NASA on the moon which will open a plethora of opportunities to the Indian space sector. In this context, the DBT-ISRO collaboration is expected to help the space sector to be future-ready.
Interestingly, the BioE3 Policy was launched by the government in August 2024. The broader aim is to ensure biotechnology for economy, environment and employment. As per the DBT officials, there was an urgent need to bring in this policy for the government. There has been an unsustainable pattern of material consumption, resource utilization and waste generation that has led to climate change-related problems such as forest fires, melting of glaciers and a decline in biodiversity. At the same time, India demonstrated strong economic growth in the past decade and has a great potential to be amongst the global leaders in the fourth industrial revolution by leveraging emerging technologies and innovations.
As per the BioE3 policy, there is an integrated biomanufacturing policy too that had been envisaged for use of bio technology for economy, environment and employment that in turn will create innovative solutions by fostering high-performance biomanufacturing initiatives in the country. As per DBT experts, the policy is also expected to foster the growth of bioeconomy, facilitating scale-up and commercialisation of bio-based products; reducing, reusing, recycling of waste materials, expanding India’s cohort of highly skilled workforce, driving a surge in job creation and intensifying entrepreneurial momentum.
The BioE3 policy priotised different thematic verticals for implementation under the biomanufacturing initiative such as bio-based chemicals or bioploymers, smart proteins and functional foods, precision biotherapeutics, climate resilient agriculture, carbon capture and utlisation and futuristic marine and space research. The policy also involves setting up of bio artificial intelligence (AI) hubs which will serve as the focal point for advancing the integration of AI in fostering innovation and R&D by using the AI under the biomanufacturing initiative. The policy also includes the setting up of biomanufacturing hubs across the country and also biofoundry which will involve the creation of an advanced facility for making bioengineering processes scalable from the initial design and testing stages to pilot and pre-commercialisation production.
As per senior scientists from DBT BioE3 policy will promote indigenous innovation and development of-biopharmaceuticals, smart proteins, bio-based specialty chemicals, enzymes, agribiologicals etc. through biological processes. The policy is also expected to promote green growth, leading to a sustainable environment in the country through the transition of a chemical-based industry to a more sustainable bio-based industry. It is also expected to promote a circular bioeconomy by enabling utilization of waste (such asbiomass, landfills, greenhouse gases etc) by microbial cell factories to produce useful bio-based products. The policy will also help in combating climate changes, and attaining net zero carbon emissions particularly by controlling emission of green house gases by motivating industries to adapt greener processes of manufacturing i.e. biomanufacturing. It is also expected that it will bring a surge in employment in the 2- and 3-tier cities, where biomanufacturing hubs are proposed to be setup due to their closed proximity to the source of Biomass.
Syed Shams Yazdani, group leader at ICGEB Delhi, is also working on projects that very well align with the new BioE3 policy especially in biomanufacturing. He informs that if the production of biomass is increased and used as fuel stocks it can substantially reduce the import needs of fuel in the country. “India produces 750 million metric tons of biomass every year, much of which is wasted and many time burnt in the field leading to immense environmental pollution. Considering that greater than 85 per cent of the current fuel needs of India, which is more than 200 million metric tons per year, is imported from outside, there is an excellent opportunity to reduce the import burden by using biomass as feedstock for producing fuels,” explained Yazdani.
He explains that Biomass is mainly composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Cellulose and hemicellulose are polymers of sugars and can be digested by cellulase and hemicellulase enzymes into simple sugars. These simple sugars can be further fermented into bioethanol using suitable microbes, a process called 2G-ethanol. However, the cellulase or hemicellulase enzymes are not efficient and are expensive, leading to the overall high cost of 2G ethanol. ICGEB got funds from the DBT to set up a special bioenergy centre to develop high-end technologies using synthetic biology approaches.
Yazdani’s laboratory at the Microbial Engineering Group of ICGEB performed an extensive bioprospecting study to screen a hyper-cellulase producing fungal species. A detailed characterisation of enzyme composition led to the discovery of
several novel enzymes and auxiliary proteins that play important roles in biomass hydrolysis. The group further performed used genome editing techniques to enhance the titer and efficiency of cellulase enzymes. The enzyme efficiency was validated by the third party using biomass from Panipat biorefinery and was found to be at par with the best imported enzymes. The technology for ICGEB enzyme production has been scaled-up to 15,000 liter scale and a techno-economic analysis (TEA) has been done. Several national and international patents were filed to protect the IP, among which USA patent has been granted.
“With the help of DBT, we are discussing with industries to biomanufacture our enzymes to reduce the import of cellulase enzymes. The use of ICGEB’s DIBzyme-3 enzyme technology for producing 2G ethanol is likely to reduce the use and import of fossil fuels and the associated greenhouse gas emissions, which ultimately will help in achieving India’s vision of net-zero carbon emission by the year 2070,” remarked Yazdani.
