A hybrid bioreactor for high density cultivation of plant cell suspensions

A hybrid bioreactor was developed for the production of secondary metabolites from high density cultivation of plant cell suspensions. Some of the advantages of both air-lift and cell-lift by agitation were combined. The addition of a decanting column also made it possible to run a perfusion system for high density culture or to run a two-stage culture efficiently. Cell growth and the production of berberine from Thalictrum rugosum in the hybrid bioreactor are reported in this paper. A cell density up to 31 g/l was obtained by perfusion without any problems in mixing or loss of cell viability and the specific berberine productivity was comparable to that in shake flasks. The maximum berberine concentration was 88 mg/l at 3 weeks of operation and declined thereafter.