Figure 1: Bioprocess monitoring and automatic feeding of key nutrients such as glucose and amino acids are critical to obtain optimal high productivity in cell culture systems. Here we present a complete, closed-loop system that integrates a Groton Biosystems Automated Reactor Sample System with a nutrient analyzer and a reactor control system that demonstrates a powerful, automated online, real-time feeding system. Materials and Methods A Groton Biosystems Automated Reactor Sampler (ARS-M) is connected to a four-vessel DasGip Parallel Bioreactor System…
Author Archives: BPI Contributor
From General Data Management to Advanced Audit Trails…
Figure 1: New Brunswick Scientific has developed three new versions of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) software programs. These SCADA programs allow fermentation or cell culture processes to be automated, monitored, and controlled. The three packages — BioCommand® Track and Trend, BioCommand Batch Control, and BioCommand Batch Control Plus — provide a variety of tools and the flexibility needed for any process requirement. Whether you require only basic trending and batch reporting, programming for process automation and optimization, or…
Effect of Prefiltration on Scalability of 0.1-µm Rated Membrane Filters
Figure 1: The effect of prefiltration on the scalability of 0.1-m rated membrane filters is evaluated using a specific cell culture medium that showed reduced filtration throughput (in terms of L/m2) with pleated cartridges. Biopharmaceutical process developers seek to size membrane filters more accurately to improve process economics. Understanding the scalability of filters from discs to pleated cartridges has thus become important. Contradictory claims on the scale-up between different filter configurations have been made in the literature (1, 2). Recently,…
Expression of a Human–Derived Growth Factor Containing Multiple Disulfide Bonds in —Based ēnex Expression Technology™
Figure 1: This protein proved to be “difficult to express” in both mammalian (CHO) and yeast (Pichia pastoris) expression platforms. In CHO cells, expression levels were very low, 1 g/L at the 96-well scale, had deletions of two proteases that when singly deleted showed marginal expression of the growth factor. When those cells are grown in a fermentor, we anticipate a further three- to five-fold increase in titer. These results powerfully demonstrate the utility of the Pfēnex Expression Technology™ toolbox…
Three Ways to Increase Laboratory Efficiency
Equipment automation is the key to the emerging needs of laboratory efficiency. Automation reduces the risk of manual mistakes, minimizes experimental repetitions, and saves material. This retains lower operation costs, increases efficiency, and eases factorial-designed experiment approaches, such as design of experiments (DoE). Automated laboratory processes combined with comprehensive data management programs open the way into laboratory- and site-spanning information networks. With its Parallel Bioreactor System, DASGIP supports laboratory automation in microbiology and cell culture: It offers excellent opportunities for…
Hi-Tech Components for Holistic Cultivation
Bioengineering AG looks back at over 35 years of experience in the planning and construction of biotechnological plants. Holistic solutions have become the status quo: from inoculation to harvest, from feed line to CIP-system, and from automation to validation. Because we do not want to limit our know-how to customers fermenting with Bioengineering equipment, we made components for all process steps available as single parts. To support progress in biotechnological processes, we also develop custom-made components for special applications. Operational…
Setting the Stage
Much has already been written lately about addressing the so-called “downstream bottleneck(s).” A number of companies are leading the way toward developing products and platforms for reducing both the costs and the time required for downstream processing. Our task with this special issue was to provide a state-of-the-art update on these activities — but as always, within a limited number of pages allotted. The primary issue behind this bottleneck debacle is to address purification challenges posed by aggregation in cell…
Single-Use Strategies in Bioprocessing
BioProcess International has followed, from the beginning, the ways in which single-use technologies have transformed the landscape of industrial bioprocessing. On 18 March 2009, we organized a panel session at the annual Interphex conference (Jacob Javitz Center, NYC) to drive discussion toward longer-term implications of single-use components and technologies on the future of bioprocessing. Is their use a cost-saving strategy overall? What economic factors are driving their adoption? The panelists were prepared to address such topics as economic considerations in…
Automated Liquid Handlers As Sources of Error
Use of automated liquid handling equipment for rapid testing and reproducible screening of thousands of molecules, cells, and compounds has become an essential component of life-science laboratories across the globe. Along with an increase in such use, transferred volumes have shrunk, as demands increase on transfer accuracy and precision when aspirating, diluting, dispensing, mixing, and washing. Automated liquid handlers are generally used to increase the productivity and repeatability of volume transfer, but as discussed here, they are still prone to…
BioProcess International Conference and Exhibition
IBC’s BioProcess International Conference and Exhibition (BPI) will head back to the US east coast for 2009 to Raleigh, NC. This has become the largest, most respected forum focusing on technical, regulatory, and strategic planning challenges in the manufacture of biotherapeutics. Four comprehensive conference tracks as well as intimate workshops, strategic discussion groups, training seminars, and colocated conferences will continue to provide you with an interactive and lively format all in one location. BPI allows you to meet face-to-face with…