[Bioreactors for animal cell culture and their mechanical environment]

Bioreactor is a key device during in vitro animal cell culture. It provides an appropriate growth environment for the cells, enabling them to proliferate and become the final bio-product. Since animal cells are different from microbial cells in morphology, culture skill needed, and mechanical stimulation needed, the traditional microbial bioreactors are not suitable for the large-scale animal cell culture any more, and many new bioreactors are developed. This paper reviews the bioreactors particularly designed for the animal cell culture, and addresses the mechanical loads on the cultured cells.