Reimagining biomanufacturing: scalable and safe plant-based systems for next-generation biopharmaceuticals

Abstract

Plant-based expression systems are emerging as promising alternatives to conventional mammalian platforms for biopharmaceutical production. Their inherent biosafety, cost-efficiency, and scalability make them attractive for the rapid and sustainable manufacture of therapeutic proteins. This review summarizes recent advances in plant molecular farming, including transient and stable expression strategies, viral vector engineering, regulatory element optimization, and glycoengineering approaches. Transient expression enables fast and flexible protein production, while stable transformation ensures consistent and inheritable yields. To address immunogenicity concerns from plant-specific glycans, targeted genome editing and the introduction of human glycosyltransferases have enabled the production of clinically relevant human-like glycoforms. Case studies on plant-derived antibodies, enzymes, and vaccines highlight the clinical feasibility of this platform. Despite regulatory and technical challenges, continued innovation in synthetic biology and downstream processing is expected to drive wider commercialization. Overall, plant-based systems offer a scalable, safe, and sustainable platform for next-generation biopharmaceutical manufacturing.