---
title: Biomass Magazine: Why Use Living Cells? NLR Is Making Chemicals With Enzymes Alone
description: Why use living cells at all?” That’s the question researchers at the U.S. National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) are asking as they explore cell-free biomanufacturing - a rapidly emerging approach that replaces living microbes with precisely engineered enzyme cascades.
---

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# [Biomass Magazine: Why Use Living Cells? NLR Is Making Chemicals With Enzymes Alone](https://exozymes.com/blog/biomass-magazine-enzymes-nlr)

 Written by [eXoZymes](https://exozymes.com/blog/author/exozymes) | June 29, 2026

“*Cell-free biocatalysis for biomanufacturing - or cell-free biomanufacturing - essentially operates enzymatic cascades without the constraints of a living cell. This is a technology that could transform the bioenergy sector but also pharma and fine chemicals,*” explained [Yannick Bomble](https://www.linkedin.com/in/yannick-bomble-phd-25807422b/), a National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) principal scientist and an R&D leader in cell-free biomanufacturing.

Why use living cells at all?” That’s the question researchers at the U.S. National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) are asking as they explore cell-free biomanufacturing—a rapidly emerging approach that replaces living microbes with precisely engineered enzyme cascades. In a new feature, NLR Principal Scientist Yannick Bomble explains why the technology could reshape not only bioenergy, but also pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. It’s an excellent overview of why so many researchers and companies are investing in the future of cell-free manufacturing.

[Click here for the full article in Biomass Magazine](https://biomassmagazine.com/articles/why-use-living-cells-nlr-is-making-chemicals-with-enzymes-alone)

<https://biomassmagazine.com/articles/why-use-living-cells-nlr-is-making-chemicals-with-enzymes-alone>

 

[View full post](https://exozymes.com/blog/biomass-magazine-enzymes-nlr)

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