Integration of physiology and fluid dynamics.

Area of Science:

• Bioprocess Engineering
• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Physiological Modeling

Background:

• Scaling up bioprocesses requires reliable simulation tools that integrate fluid dynamics and physiology.
• Advancements in computing power enable holistic simulation strategies by linking biosystem dynamics with the physical environment.
• Understanding the interplay between biological responses and physical conditions is crucial for process optimization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in simulating bioreactors.
• To demonstrate how integrating CFD with kinetic models aids in selecting optimal impeller configurations.
• To explore advanced methods for observing intracellular responses for more complex modeling.

Main Methods:

• Application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to three-dimensional two-phase turbulence flow in stirred tank bioreactors.
• Coupling momentum and material balance equations with unstructured kinetic models of biophase behavior.
• Utilizing stimulus-response methods for rapid experimental observation of intracellular concentrations.

Main Results:

• CFD simulations coupled with kinetic models can predict the distribution of substrates and dissolved oxygen in bioreactors.
• Examples illustrate the use of these integrated strategies for selecting appropriate impeller configurations.
• The study highlights the necessity of understanding cell factory responses to dynamic concentration fields.

Conclusions:

• Integrating CFD with structured metabolic models offers a pathway to more accurate bioprocess simulations.
• Improved simulation tools accelerate scale-up and optimize bioreactor performance.
• Further research into cellular responses to dynamic environments is needed for advanced integration approaches.