Automation of the bioreactor process for mass propagation and secondary metabolism

Application of bioreactor systems for large scale production of horticultural and medicinal plants

“…Since oxygen is only sparingly soluble in water (0.25 mmol l )1 at 25°C. 1 atm., 21% (v/v) O 2 in the air), it is necessary to drive the diffusion of oxygen into the aqueous phase to meet the demand of actively growing tissues or cells (Leathers et al, 1995). This is accomplished by modifying operational parameters such as aeration rate, agitation speed, impeller design, gas mixing and bioreactor configuration.…”

“…The critical dissolved oxygen concentration, DO 2crit , can be described as the dissolved oxygen concentration above which no further increase in specific oxygen uptake rate can be measured. At DO 2 levels below the DO 2crit , cells have reduced energy (ATP) levels, which may have direct effects on cellular metabolism and morphology (Leathers et al, 1995). Practically, this is important because the DO 2crit value is used for designing appropriate bioreactor operating systems to ensure that an oxygen-limiting condition does not suppress the metabolic activity of the culture.…”

“…The other key parameter is mixing, which is necessary to distribute equally cells or tissues, and nutrients throughout the liquid phase (Leathers et al, 1995;Sajc et al, 2000;Honda et al, 2001). Mixing is normally carried out by sparging, mechanical agitation or a combination of these two, but the magnitude of hydrodynamic forces associated with mixing should be small enough not to cause cell or tissue damage, but sufficient to stimulate selected cell functions.…”

“…Automation of micropropagation in bioreactors has been advanced by several authors as a possible way of reducing costs of micropropagation (Preil, 1991;Sharma, 1992;Takayama and Akita, 1994;Christie et al, 1995;Leathers et al, 1995;Son et al, 1999;Ibaraki and Kurata, 2001;Chakrabarty and Paek, 2001;Paek et al, 2001). Bioreactors containing liquid media are used for large-scale growth of various tissues.…”

Increasing Scopolamine content in Hairy Roots of Atropa belladonna using Bioreactor

“…Improvements in H6H activity causes more hyosiamine to change into scopolamine (Palazon et al 2003). When aeration level is low, cells decline energy (ATP) levels, which may direct affect the cellular metabolism and morphology (Leathers 1995). Smart and Fowler (1984) cultivated Catharanthus roseus in an airlift reactor using aeration rates in the range 0.33 to 1.33 vvm.…”