Green Biomanufacturing: Plant-Based Production of Human Serum Albumin in Nicotiana benthamiana

Human serum albumin (HSA) is a life-saving protein with critical applications in medicine, from stabilizing vaccines to treating severe burns and hemorrhagic shock. Traditionally sourced from human plasma or produced in microbial and mammalian cell systems, HSA manufacturing faces challenges such as high costs, biosafety concerns, and sustainability limitations.

A groundbreaking study now demonstrates how Nicotiana benthamiana, a tobacco-related plant, can serve as a green biomanufacturing platform for producing functional recombinant human serum albumin (rHSA). This approach combines cutting-edge plant molecular farming with environmental sustainability, marking a new era for biopharmaceutical production.

**Why Nicotiana benthamiana?**

Unlike conventional systems requiring expensive infrastructure, Nicotiana benthamiana offers:

Rapid scalability via transient expression techniques
Lower production costs with reduced need for complex media
Environmentally friendly processes using plant-based biosystems

By optimizing agroinfiltration conditions, researchers achieved 30 μg of rHSA per gram of fresh leaf weight within just four days, ensuring high yield and functional equivalence to native HSA.

Sustainability at the Core

Using the ComplexMoGAPI framework, the study assessed:

Solvent efficiency: 0.083 L/mg
Energy consumption: 6.73 kWh/mg
Waste-to-Product Ratio (WPR): 9350 g/mg

While energy use and waste management remain challenges, the system eliminates risks linked to animal pathogens and offers opportunities for biomass valorization into biofuels or agricultural by-products.

Medical and Industrial Impact

Functional testing confirmed that plant-derived rHSA stimulates fibroblast cell proliferation, validating its therapeutic potential. Future directions include:

Enhancing yields through metabolic engineering
Reducing waste via solvent recovery and energy-efficient purification
Meeting regulatory standards for clinical-grade applications

Conclusion

Plant-based molecular farming in Nicotiana benthamiana represents a cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable alternative for recombinant protein production. With further optimization, this green biomanufacturing platform could transform how life-saving biologics like HSA are produced, supporting both healthcare innovation and environmental responsibility.

Reference

Sujarittham, I., Ngaokrajang, U., Suwanchaikasem, P., Rattanapisit, K., Jirananon, K., Angsuwattana, P., Rojsitthisak, P., Bulaon, C. J. I., & Phoolcharoen, W. (2025). Sustainable production of functional human serum albumin in Nicotiana benthamiana: a green biomanufacturing approach. Npj Science of Plants, 1(1), 6. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44383-025-00005-5