Issue: May / June 2025

Enzyme immobilization is a critical technology to enhance the stability and reusability of biocatalysts for industrial applications. However, traditional immobilization development is still tied to trial-and-error approaches, which are time-consuming and often lead to a suboptimal preparation. In this article, we aim to discuss the latest developments in the integration of high throughput experimentation, bioinformatics and data driven tools for the design and development of novel immobilized enzymes.

Selective hydrogenation plays a critical role in modern synthetic chemistry, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry, where the production of chiral molecules with high enantiomeric purity is essential for the efficacy and safety of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). By enabling the selective introduction of stereogenic centers, metal catalyzed hydrogenation processes are often the key to achieving the desired pharmacological properties. This article reviews both the historical evolution and modern strategies for developing enantioselective hydrogenation processes, focusing on a real case study where process optimization has been extensively studied to meet industrial requirements.

The application of biocatalysis into chemical processes is a fast-growing area driven by its potential benefits towards manufacturing sustainability.
The recent applications are unlocking the design of enzymatic machineries capable of executing unimaginable reactivities with great precision and satisfactory yields in “greener” condition. However, to adequately scale-up the designed biocatalytic route to the industrial level, several other features must be guaranteed, such as enzyme production and overall cost effectiveness. These concepts will be described through two case studies that occurred in our laboratories.

In this overview, the principles underlying the evolution of catalysis over time through the transition from homogeneous to heterogeneous catalysis and the more recent single-atom catalysis, and its strong impact on both academia and industry will be explored and discussed. This article discusses the crucial role of catalysis in both academic research and industrial applications, with advances often motivated by the need for more sustainable, selective, and efficient chemical transformations. Several examples of the application of catalysis techniques and their development are reported, offering insights into needs and prospects in different fields. Here, homogeneous catalysis, the development of nanoreactors and supramolecular systems, and single-atom catalysis are explored, presenting a concise overview of these milestones and discussing how frontier research is shaping the future of catalysis.