Bioreactors Microcarrier-based systems

Stirred-tank bioreactors Air-lift bioreactors Wave bioreactors Microcarrier-based systems Packed-bed bioreactors Fluidized-bed bioreactors Hollow-fiber bioreactors Bioreactors providing surfaces for attached cell growth (roller bottles, CellCube , Cell Factory)... 

Commercial scale cultivation of mammalian cells is accompHshed using different technologies roller bottles, microcarriers, suspension (batch, fed-batch or perfusion mode) and hollow fiber bioreactors (Table 2). However, especially for products needed in large amounts, suspension cultivation seems to be the most effective system [4, 5]. Suspension-based systems are characterized by a homogeneous concentration of cells, nutrients, metabolites and product, thereby facilitating scale-up [6] and enabling an accurate monitoring and control of the culture [7]. 

Demetriou et al. [25] described a capillary hollow fiber membrane based bioreactor in which microcarrier-attached hepatocytes are placed in the extracapillary space on the exterior surface of the capillary hollow fiber membranes as shown in Fig. 1. Recent experimental studies with this device have demonstrated its efficacy in animal models. By using cryopreserved microcarrier-attached hepatocytes this system offers the convenience of being readily available when needed. 

Production The production culture may be a batch of several hundred roller bottles, 30 to 50 cell factories, or a single bioreactor for suspension (100 to 10,000 L) or microcarrier (50 to 500 L) ceUs. Although batch-type production is still the most common process, continuous processes where the product is harvested daily over a long period (20 to 100 d) are being increasingly used. Culture systems based on hollow fibers, porous microcarriers, or other immobilization techniques are used for continuous perfusion processes. During the production phase, the virus seed or a promoter (e.g., for interferon) may be added. 

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