How scalable and suitable are single-use bioreactors?

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Bioprocess Engineering
• Cell Culture Technology

Background:

• Stainless steel bioreactor scalability is well-established, but single-use bioreactors (SUBs) introduce new complexities.
• SUBs offer design flexibility beyond classical geometric constraints, enabling varied mixing strategies.
• Emerging applications like continuous perfusion processes necessitate robust SUB scalability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss the current state of single-use bioreactor cultivation performance.
• To emphasize the impact of cell physiological properties on SUB scalability.
• To explore cultivation modes beyond traditional engineering parameters for SUBs.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on single-use bioreactor technology.
• Analysis of cultivation performances across different scales.
• Evaluation of cell physiological properties in various SUB cultivation modes.

Main Results:

• SUBs present unique scalability challenges due to versatile designs and mixing principles.
• Specific mixing strategies in SUBs may benefit shear-sensitive cells like mycelium-forming organisms and stem cells.
• SUBs show promise for advanced applications such as continuous perfusion processes.

Conclusions:

• Scalability assessment for SUBs requires considering cell physiology and diverse cultivation modes, not just classical engineering parameters.
• The flexibility of SUBs offers potential advantages for specialized cell cultures and emerging bioprocesses.
• Further research is needed to fully understand and optimize SUB scalability for various applications.