Mammalian cell cultivation in space

Area of Science:

• Space Biology
• Biotechnology
• Cell Culture Technology

Background:

• Current space-based mammalian cell cultivation equipment lacks the standards of terrestrial bioreactors.
• There is a critical need for space-worthy bioreactors to study microgravity's effects on cells and supply researchers with cell materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a feasible bioreactor for space experiments.
• To investigate the impact of the space environment, particularly microgravity, on mammalian cells.
• To provide a reliable source of cell material for long-duration space missions and the International Space Station.

Main Methods:

• Development of the Dynamic Cell Culture System (DCCS), a compact bioreactor for Spacelab.
• The DCCS features two 200-microliter cell culture chambers: one batch and one perfusion system.
• Utilized an automatic osmotic pump for medium exchange and an adjacent gas chamber for oxygen supply, relying on diffusion for oxygen influx.

Main Results:

• The DCCS was tested using hamster kidney cells grown on microcarriers.
• The system operates without mechanical stirring or sensors, relying on diffusion for oxygen supply.
• Preliminary ground tests demonstrated the biological performance and feasibility of the DCCS.

Conclusions:

• The developed Dynamic Cell Culture System (DCCS) is a viable solution for mammalian cell culture in space.
• This system can support research on the effects of microgravity on cells.
• The DCCS has the potential to provide essential cell materials for space missions.