---
title: NLR: Why Use Living Cells? NLR Is Making Chemicals With Enzymes Alone
description: NLR researchers address technical challenges for ‘cell-free’ biomanufacturing - which could reduce costs of bio-based chemicals.
---

[news ](https://exozymes.com/blog)

# [NLR: Why Use Living Cells? NLR Is Making Chemicals With Enzymes Alone](https://exozymes.com/blog/nlr-why-use-living-cells)

 Written by [eXoZymes](https://exozymes.com/blog/author/exozymes) | March 26, 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.

[Full story available here...](https://www.nlr.gov/news/detail/features/2026/why-use-living-cells--nlr-is-making-chemicals-with-enzymes-alone)

<https://www.nlr.gov/news/detail/features/2026/why-use-living-cells--nlr-is-making-chemicals-with-enzymes-alone>

 

[View full post](https://exozymes.com/blog/nlr-why-use-living-cells)

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