Cultivation and Differentiation of Encapsulated hMSC-TERT in a Disposable Small-Scale Syringe-Like Fixed Bed Reactor

Christian Weber,Peter Geigle,Sebastian Pohl,Moustapha Kassem,Christine Wallrapp,Ralf Pörtner,Peter Czermak

doi:10.2174/1874120700701010064

Abstract

The use of commercially available plastic syringes is introduced as disposable small-scale fixed bed bioreactors for the cultivation of implantable therapeutic cell systems on the basis of an alginate-encapsulated human mesenchymal stem cell line. The system introduced is fitted with a noninvasive oxygen sensor for the continuous monitoring of the cultivation process. Fixed bed bioreactors offer advantages in comparison to other systems due to their ease of automation and online monitoring capability during the cultivation process. These benefits combined with the advantage of single-use make the fixed bed reactor an interesting option for GMP processes. The cultivation of the encapsulated cells in the fixed bed bioreactor system offered vitalities and adipogenic differentiation similar to well-mixed suspension cultures.

Highlights

In research and pharmaceutical industry, many smallscale bioreactors such as stirred tanks, spinner and tissue culture flasks, and rocked bags are used for the cultivation of animal cells [1,2]
The latter three are available as disposable systems, which offer many advantages including the avoidance of cleaning procedures and availability as sterilized ready-to-use units [3]. These characteristics allow their use in GMP processes as well as in the optimization of system variables at low-scale [4, 5]
Single-use syringes are commonly available from 1 to 100 ml as sterile packed single units, offering the benefit of disposable bioreactor systems that can be adapted to different cultivation processes

Summary

Introduction

In research and pharmaceutical industry, many smallscale bioreactors such as stirred tanks, spinner and tissue culture flasks, and rocked bags are used for the cultivation of animal cells [1,2]. The latter three are available as disposable systems, which offer many advantages including the avoidance of cleaning procedures and availability as sterilized ready-to-use units [3]. These characteristics allow their use in GMP processes as well as in the optimization of system variables at low-scale [4, 5]. Single-use syringes are commonly available from 1 to 100 ml as sterile packed single units, offering the benefit of disposable bioreactor systems that can be adapted to different cultivation processes

Methods

Results

Conclusion