Exclusive Interview with Dr. Qiao Changsheng, Chief Scientist of Jinkun Bio: Expanding Multi-Scenario Applications of SynBio Ingredients Is Crucial

Following the two biotechnological revolutions of “the discovery of the DNA double helix” and “the Human Genome Project,” synthetic biology is hailed as the “third biotechnological revolution.” The discovery of the DNA double helix and the Human Genome Project enabled humanity to progress from understanding life to deciphering it, while synthetic biology is now propelling us toward writing and creating life.

After more than two decades of development, synthetic biology—a multidisciplinary field—is now experiencing explosive growth. According to data released by Coherent Market Insights, the global synthetic biology market size reached $13.9 billion in 2022, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.0% from 2022 to 2030. Emerging sectors such as biomedicine, new materials, agricultural technology, and food and beverage are expected to drive rapid market expansion.

Synthesizing All Things: Synthetic Biology Steps into the SpotlightAs synthetic biology formally moves from the background to the forefront, it is attracting an increasing influx of capital and corporate interest. Its applications now span chemicals, energy, materials, agriculture, medicine, and the environment, as well as food, proteins, and extracted raw materials. Amidst this sustained hype, we must take a step back and ask critical questions: How should synthetic biology develop? What opportunities and challenges does it present? And what hurdles must be overcome to transition from the laboratory to industrial-scale manufacturing?

Standing at the cusp of synthetic biology’s imminent takeoff, it is even more crucial to heed diverse perspectives from industry, academia, and the investment community. Driven by questions about the development of synthetic biology, industry pain points, and opportunities for innovation, VCBeat had the privilege of interviewingQiao Changsheng, Professor at the School of Biological Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, and Chief Scientist at Jinkun Biotechnology.

VCBeat: How great is the potential of synthetic biology?

Prof. Changsheng Qiao: In theory, I believe that approximately 35% of chemically synthesized substances will be replaced by biosynthesized alternatives, and this proportion could even be higher. However, in practical applications, we need to consider a broader range of factors, such as cost-effectiveness, as well as whether process technologies and underlying technical platforms are sufficiently robust to support such transitions.

Compared with chemical synthesis, biosynthesis offers many unique advantages. First, it is safer, as the manufacturing process operates under mild conditions without involving extreme environments such as high temperature and high pressure. Second, it generates less environmental pollution, which is easier to control or treat. Third, the process involves fewer steps, simplifying originally complex procedures into just one or two steps, thereby facilitating large-scale production.

Of course, this does not mean that biosynthesis can completely replace chemical synthesis. For example, chemical synthesis is more efficient and cost-effective for producing certain dipeptide and tripeptide products.

The future development prospects of synthetic biology are limitless, potentially encompassing every aspect of our daily lives. Various industries will actively engage based on application scenarios, and the technology may even yield innovative applications in unexpected fields.

VCBeat: How will synthetic biology drive qualitative transformations across multiple sectors, including medical aesthetics, food, and agriculture?

Prof. Changsheng Qiao: Whether in medical aesthetics, food, or agriculture, achieving qualitative transformation is inseparable from the continuous advancement of synthetic biology technology.

In the 1990s, I spent approximately a decade engaged in research within the field of food science before returning to Tianjin to focus on novel bioprocesses. It is precisely for this reason that I retain a deep-seated affection for the food sector and have never ceased exploring opportunities to extend my work into this domain. Indeed, bioreactions and biofermentation are technologies capable of influencing a broad spectrum of industries.

Building on this foundation, we are leveraging bio-functionally enhanced technologies to expand into medical aesthetics, food, environmental protection, and agriculture, striving to establish a complete closed-loop system for biomanufacturing. Specifically, Ningbo Jinkun Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has achieved large-scale commercial production of two core products: pullulan and polyglutamic acid. The biomass protein generated as a byproduct during fermentation was previously treated as waste and disposed of by specialized facilities. However, within our closed-loop system, this byproduct is upcycled into feed protein and bio-fertilizers. Furthermore, water used throughout the entire bioreaction process is recycled through advanced fermentation engineering.

Enhancement of biological functions does not necessarily entail an increase or decrease in the content of a single substance; rather, it may involve the potentiation of specific functions following biological fermentation. By leveraging multi-omics approaches, such as nutriomics and metabolomics, for comprehensive analysis, various functional attributes can be developed to establish a closed-loop system. While bio-enhancement is conceptually similar to biosynthesis, the latter specifically refers to the synthesis of defined products, such as pullulan or polyglutamic acid. In the future, if precise targets can be identified, we will continue to advance along the path of functional enhancement.

VCBeat: What stage has China's synthetic biology development reached? What are the technical challenges?

Prof. Qiao Changsheng: On the surface, China’s progress in synthetic biology is largely in step with overseas developments; however, the three foundational technologies of synthetic biology—gene sequencing, gene editing, and gene synthesis—still originate from abroad, indicating that basic research capabilities need to be further strengthened.

Currently, synthetic biology companies in China are primarily focused on two directions. One is providing foundational technical support to assist with strain construction, metabolic pathway engineering, and high-throughput screening, a segment largely driven by the commercialization of academic research from universities. The other focuses on product development; leveraging China’s existing fermentation industry base, these companies can overcome significant challenges to lead globally in scale and production capacity.

Several issues remain to be addressed during the development process. First, there is an insufficient reserve of engineering talent; the process scale-up stage involves extensive trial-and-error, which requires substantial support from specialized professionals.

What deserves our greater attention is product selection in synthetic biology. For a long period in the past, the industry has concentrated on a few common categories, ranging from PHA and PHB to erythritol, leading to overcapacity in the entire fermentation sector and leaving many fermenters and downstream extraction equipment idle. Therefore, in my view, product selection must take into account multiple factors, first of which isTo accurately grasp the pulse of the market, clarify what the market demands and what type of products are needed; secondlyFully understand the market access laws and regulations both domestically and internationally, many products developed by university faculty either fail to achieve industrialization or are not included in the national catalog, lacking safety evaluations and ultimately failing to obtain production licenses; furthermore, it is crucial to considerCan product selection be expanded and developed for use in more scenarios?, for instance, pullulan and polyglutamic acid, which have been developed and can be mass-produced by Ningbo Jinkun Biotechnology Co., Ltd., are not limited to medical aesthetics applications but can also be utilized in fields such as agriculture and environmental protection.

Ningbo Jinkun Biotechnology Co., Ltd.’s overall business is also divided into “horizontal” and “vertical” lines. “Horizontal” refers to a diverse product portfolio, including polyglutamic acid, pullulan polysaccharide, and polymalic acid; “vertical” entails broadening the application scope of each product.Go Deep,Achieve diverse functionalities through various flexible combinations, covering more fields.

Overall, product selection is a critical issue. It requires both short-term, quick-turnaround offerings and long-term strategic planning; combining these approaches enhances market survivability.

VCBeat: Which fields are currently the focus of product selection in synthetic biology?

Qiao ChangshengProfessor: I believe the focus is primarily on the following areas:Medical Aesthetics Sector, with broad market prospects and favorable policies;Agriculture Sector, including feed, fertilizers, seeds, and agricultural mulch films; the next step is to address cost reduction and efficiency improvement;Big Health Sector, offering vast market potential for the development of functional foods that provide targeted nutrition for different age groups;Ecological and Environmental Protection Sector, primarily focusing on land remediation projects, including the development of products for desertification control, mine restoration, saline-alkali land rehabilitation, and contaminated land remediation; Ningbo Jinkun is currently expanding in this direction;Pharmaceutical Sector, facilitating the transition from chemically synthesized drugs to microbially synthesized ones, primarily applied in the field of traditional Chinese medicine.

Furthermore, the focus is on the production phase, where synthetic biology approaches can be leveraged to produce renewable materials from abundant sources, thereby effectively reducing costs. Consequently, the scope for product selection is indeed very broad.

Ningbo Jinkun Biotechnology Co., Ltd. is currently expanding the multi-sector applications of its existing product portfolio. For instance, polyglutamic acid (PGA) has been widely applied in water retention, efficiency enhancement, moisturizing, and environmental protection. It has been successfully tested in the cultivation of various agricultural products, including corn, wheat, strawberries, golden chrysanthemums, and Chinese chives, yielding income increases ranging from 7.8% to 25%. PGA has also demonstrated significant efficacy in improving desertified and saline-alkali soils, with sales already reaching hundreds of tons. Pullulan polysaccharide has been introduced into the agricultural sector, and we are developing an agricultural mulch film with PGA and pullulan polysaccharide as core ingredients, designed to provide water retention and efficiency-enhancing functions during sowing and other stages. Additionally, we are actively exploring multi-sector application scenarios for other raw materials, such as polymalic acid, and related projects have already been launched.

VCBeat: Focusing on the medical aesthetics sector, what are the current key competitive factors?

Prof. Qiao Changsheng: The most critical aspect of the medical aesthetics sector is the optimization and iterative development of raw materials. By developing a wider range of ingredients that are applicable and meet market demands, we can leverage optimized combinations of these materials to create diverse products. Similar to traditional Chinese medicine, both raw materials and formulations are required; only through their combination can efficacious products be achieved.

Specifically, we aim to provide more solutions for the medical aesthetics market, primarily by optimizing raw materials and developing new functional products. For instance, while we have historically relied on hyaluronic acid as a key ingredient for product development, we can identify superior alternatives in the future or enhance the functionality of existing products through strategic combinations of various ingredients. This approach will better align with market demands and offer consumers a wider range of choices.

VCBeat: What key technologies in synthetic biology are currently awaiting breakthroughs?

Prof. Qiao Changsheng: Breakthroughs in application scenarios are crucial; products limited to a single use case face inherent constraints. From a market perspective, it is extremely difficult to stand out when numerous competitors flock to popular sectors. Taking erythritol as an example, if this sugar substitute lacks secondary development and integration into various beverages, it will lead to overcapacity. Moreover, relying solely on its function as a sugar substitute does not give erythritol a dominant advantage, as it is not the sole option available. Therefore, we should make preparations and carefully consider our strategy before entering new fields.Can new application scenarios be designed or developed?Avoid cutthroat competition.

From a technical perspective, the core of production lies in enhancing production efficiency. In the field of synthetic biology, this involves three key aspects: first, the ability to construct a diverse library of microbial strains and screen for those with higher efficiency; second, the optimization of fermentation processes to improve conversion rates and reduce costs through precise control of manufacturing parameters; and third, the refinement of purification processes, which directly impacts product quality, as purity requirements may differ between pharmaceutical-grade and cosmetic-grade products.

Finally, issues related to scale-up production must be considered in advance. Scaling up production is not merely a matter of increasing fermenter size; as the scale progresses from grams to kilograms and then to tons, fermentation performance often declines. Therefore, each step requires renewed exploration and optimization. During the scale-up process, it is essential to continuously monitor the metabolic status of the microbial strain and adjust its metabolic pathways, thereby enhancing overall fermentation performance by improving the strain’s productivity, proliferative capacity, and environmental tolerance.

Currently, Ningbo Jinkun Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has overcome the challenges of scaling up production, establishing production lines with capacities ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of tons for various raw materials, including polyglutamic acid and pullulan. By employing pure water purification processes, the company can produce pharmaceutical-grade raw materials. It is expected that significant production capacity will be released by the end of this year to meet market demand.

VCBeat: What key issues require special attention in the translational research of synthetic biology?

Prof. Changsheng Qiao: In the translation of scientific research in the field of synthetic biology,The journey from 0 to 1 relies on scientists, while the leap from 1 to 100 requires the support of engineering capabilities.Faculty members at research institutes are more focused on investigating technical principles, making it difficult to expect them to possess engineering capabilities. However, such capabilities are key to bridging the “valley of death” in pilot-scale testing and require long-term exploration and accumulation. Therefore, faculty members at research institutes should cultivate a strong engineering mindset from the outset of product development and ideally seek collaboration with a team that possesses robust engineering expertise.

VCBeat: As the Chief Scientist of Jinkun Biotechnology, what technological path will Jinkun Biotechnology follow in the future?

Prof. Changsheng Qiao: In terms of strain richness, Ningbo Jinkun Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has developed various raw materials, including poly-L-lactic acid, polyglutamic acid, pullulan, polymalic acid, and recombinant collagen, leveraging its strain resource library and foundational technologies, thereby establishing its aesthetic medicine product pipeline. Regarding industrialization capabilities, the company has built multiple production lines with capacities ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of tons for products such as polyglutamic acid and pullulan, breaking through the bottlenecks in scaling up synthetic biological materials and securing a competitive advantage.

Ningbo Jinkun Biotechnology Co., Ltd., which focuses on biopolymer materials, aims to build its future on raw material supply by developing proprietary products or co-developing products with other industry players. Meanwhile, the company will continue to expand the multi-sector applications of its raw materials, including in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and ecology, and has already established connections with several companies. Furthermore, leveraging its technology, the company can provide comprehensive solutions for ecological challenges such as mine restoration, saline-alkali land remediation, and desertification control, thereby extending the reach of synthetic biology technologies to more fields and maximizing their impact.