Microtiter plates as mini-bioreactors: miniaturization of fermentation methods

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Biotechnology
• Bioprocess Engineering

Background:

• Microtiter plates have gained widespread industrial use for microbial cultivation over the last decade.
• Academic research has elucidated the intricate relationships between microtiter plate design, culture conditions, and critical process parameters.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the fundamental principles governing microbial growth in microtiter plates.
• To discuss the current applications of microtiter plates in microbiology.
• To highlight microtiter plates as a viable alternative to traditional shake flasks.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of academic research on microtiter plate cultivation.
• Analysis of factors influencing oxygen transfer rates (OTR) and mixing in microtiter plates.
• Examination of industrial applications and comparisons with Erlenmeyer shake flasks.

Main Results:

• Established understanding of how well dimensions, culture volumes, and orbital shaking affect OTR and mixing.
• Demonstrated the maturity and broad applicability of microtiter plate technology in microbiology.
• Quantified the benefits of microtiter plates over conventional shake flasks in specific contexts.

Conclusions:

• Microtiter plates offer a sophisticated and reliable platform for microbial cultivation.
• The detailed understanding of physical parameters allows for optimized process design and scale-up.
• Microtiter plates represent a significant advancement, comparable to or exceeding Erlenmeyer shake flasks for many applications.