Rotary cell culture system (RCCS): a new method for cultivating hepatocytes on microcarriers

The Rotary Cell Culture System (RCCS) is a new technology for growing anchorage dependent or suspension cells in the laboratory. The RCCS is a horizontally rotated, bubble free disposable culture vessel with diffusion gas exchange. The system provides a reproducible, complex 3D in vitro culture system with large cell masses. During cell growing the rotation speed can be adjusted to compensate for increased sedimentation rates. The unique environment of low shear forces, high mass transfer, and microgravity, provides very good cultivating conditions for many cell types, cell aggregates or tissue particles in a standard tissue culture laboratory. The system enables to culture HepG2 cells on Cytodex 3 microcarriers (mcs) to high densities. We inoculated 2 x 10(5)/ml HepG2 cells and 200 mg Cytodex 3 mcs in 50 ml Williams E medium (incl. 10% FCS) allowing them to attach to the mcs in the rotating vessel (rotation rate 14-20 rpm). HepG2 cells readily attached to the mcs while the vessel was rotating. Attachment of HepG2 to the mcs was about 50% after 24 hrs and 100 % within 48 hrs. After 72 hrs of rotary culturing small aggregates of Hep G2 on mcs were built. HepG2 cells and the aggregates rotated with the vessel and did not settle within the vessel or collide with the wall of the vessel. We conclude that this new RCCS is an excellent technology for culturing HepG2 cells on Cytodex 3 mcs. The system is easy to handle and enables to culture anchorage dependent cells to high densities in a short period.