Cell cultivation: unparalleled results through parallel cultivation

DASGIP cultivation systems offer simple, but reliable methods for determining the suitability of cell lines for specific processes. Small working volumes, controlled conditions and outstanding reproducibility enable the generation of reliable data regarding the behavior of the respective cell lines under defined test parameters. A wide selection of glass reactor vessels ranging from 40 milliliters to 7 liters can be used with the same cultivation system. The results, created with minimal working volumes which conserves materials, can be easily transferred to larger scale working volumes. DASGIP cultivation systems support a variety of cell lines including CHO, BHK and PERC6. Various genome projects have made a multitude of genes transparent. By producing recombinant cell lines, gene functionality can be analyzed. In the process, gene expression systems are influenced by a variety of conditions such as temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH values. The highly precise measurement of all relevant process values yields variable but stable conditions. A variety of recombinant cells can be characterized under specific conditions. In this context, it's also possible to create an environment that is optimally stabilized for expression products such as proteins and polypeptides. DASGIP cell cultivation systems thus cover the entire spectrum of cell line characterization.

» E-Flyer CHO Cells (PDF)

Users should be given ample freedom when carrying out routine and even specialized laboratory work; the freedom to complete a variety of tasks within a single timeframe. For this reason, DASGIP parallel cultivation systems are designed to automatically perform parallel steps such as calibrating electrodes and pumps or cleaning dosage piping. Each procedure is activated, executed and finalized at the push of a button. Within the process, trigger functions offer an intuitive yet exceptionally powerful opportunity to automatically activate process-dependent control functions. Recurring process steps, which can be individually scheduled, can also be automated. For example, the processing of animal cell cultures can be fully automated, and therefore without additional effort, via cyclic perfusion. Based on user-defined intervals, stirring and temperature control is deactivated in the cultivation wells. After sinking of the cells occurs, a defined amount of the culture medium is exchanged via dosage pumping, after which stirring and temperature control is reactivated. Using the DASGIP documentation wizards, the relevant data can be easily selected and extracted for use with MS^® Excel^® tables. The results to be linked are selected per mouse click and then with another mouse click are automatically displayed in an easy-to-visualize graph. The degree of automation thus ranges from preparation, to the process itself, and all the way to visualization of the results.

Embryonic and adult stem cell research is one of the most promising approaches in the further advancement of cell therapy and regenerative medicine. To satisfy the challenging growth conditions of pluripotent and multipotent cells, DASGIP Parallel Bioreactor Systems have been enhanced to meet stem cell specific requirements.

DASGIP Parallel Bioreactor Systems open up the possibility to grow stem cells under precisely controlled conditions. Their specific designs allow for efficient expansion of these sensitive cells. Working volumes as small as 35 mL (DASGIP Mini Spinner) and parallel operation of bioreactors represent optimal tools for screening - delievering reproducable results and the possibility for scale-up (e.g. with DASGIP Advanced Spinners DS0200 or DS0700).

Customized solutions meet the specific demands for the cultivation of various stem cell types including the cultivation on microcarriers or the formation of embryoid bodies.

» Article "Massively Expanding Stem Cell Suspensions"; GEN, 2012 (PDF)

» Article "Facilitating scale up"; Biotech International, 2011 (PDF)

» Article "Taking the Next Step"; Bio Process International, 2008 (PDF)

» Press Release "Stem Cell Project with Fraunhofer Institute IZI" (PDF)

» E-Flyer Stem Cells (PDF)

Apart from its use in basic research, the production of complex, biomedical proteins such as antibodies, vaccines or growth factors represents one of the primary applications in the area of animal suspension cell cultures. Using parallel bioreactor systems designed especially for work with animal cell cultures, users can create optimal and individual conditions for a variety of cell types and lines. It is not uncommon for the requirements of different cell lines to vary heavily. Temperature and pH value, oxygen and carbon dioxide gassing rates as well as the allocation of different volumes and compositions of nutrients and amino acids influences cell division rates and achievable cell density. DASGIP parallel bioreactor systems support small scale and laboratory scale research and production processes for the simple and rapid analysis of up to 16 different cell lines or clones. The combination of the DASGIP control system with disposable bioreactors enables simple and seamless scalability up to pilot scale. 

» E-Flyer CHO Cells (PDF)

» Application note "Statistically Designed Optimization for Monoclonal Antibody Production in CHO Fed-Batch Culture" (PDF)

Single-use bioreactor (SUB) solutions gain more and more importance especially in mammalian cell culture applications. Extensive cleaning and sterilization procedures known from conventional bioreactors are eliminated and set-up time is highly reduced. Thereby, the use of SUBs significantly decreases the costs in process development and production processes. Furthermore, SUBs highly reduce the risk of cross-contaminations and increase the product and process safety.

The DASbox single-use vessel, operated with the Mini Bioreactor System DASbox, and the integration of New Brunswick CelliGen BLU 5L with the DASGIP Parallel Bioreactor System combine the advantages of single-use bioreactors with DASGIP’s precise process control and comprehensive data management. Users working with cell cultures benefit from accelerated process development. Combined with the DASGIP software solutions suite DASware the FDA’s Quality by Design (QbD) approach by providing comprehensive information management, integration of 3^rd party analyzers, and Design of Experiments (DoE) tools as well as remote access via PC, Notebook, iPhone and iPad are supported. Thereby, the operation of single-use bioreactorss with the DASGIP System reduces developmental costs and time-to-market.

» E-Flyer DASbox Single-Use Vessel (PDF)

» E-Flyer CelliGen BLU 5L (PDF)

» Application Note DASbox: Cultivation of Human CAP Cells (PDF)