An automatic apparatus for continuous suspension culture with a concentrating device

Abstract

A chemostat in which mammalian cells can be raised in continuous suspension culture is described. It is constructed from commercially available parts. This apparatus has the advantage over earlier models in that the medium can be pumped off free of cells, thus suddenly increasing the cell concentration in the culture. The apparatus has been successfully used in studies on contact inhibition.

Partial and Total Cell Retention in a Filtration‐Based Homogeneous Perfusion Reactor

“…Perfusion by total cell retention is limited by the accumulation of nonviable cells and their disintegrating fragments which result in fouling of filtration-based cell retention systems (Schmialek et al, 1976;Ozturk et al, 1989;Avgerinos et al, 1990;Graf and Schugerl, 1991;Esclade et al, 1991;van der Valden-de Groot et al, 1990;Hiller et al, 1993;Banik and Heath, 1994;Mercille et al, 1994). Proteases and nucleases, secreted by the cells, may also exist at higher concentrations when total cell retention is used (Karl et al, 1990).…”

“…Continuous, homogeneous perfusion reactors are gaining favor as a means for cost effective production of proteins. Perfusion was first achieved by incorporating spin filters into a standard tank (Schmialek et al, 1976). The filter, which normally has a pore size larger than the cell diameter, retains suspended cells by means of tangential shear and the lift effect while removing spent medium.…”