Real-time monitoring and analysis of biological cultures using inline intelligent spectroscopy and real-time intelligent analytics.

Our team previously identified endogenous biomarkers using fluorescence (i.e. combination of one excitation wavelength with one emission wavelength measured over time to describe the evolution of a physiological variable) so as to increase the capacity of biologic culture monitoring. The objective is to increase the quantity of reliable information available to the researchers and operators so as to have a better idea of cell kinetics and their consequences on the bioprocess.

Results will be presented from cultures where these endogenous biomarkers were measured to generate estimations of variables such as biomass concentration, cell concentration and nutrients concentration, using a laboratory fluorescence spectrometer. The quality and reliability of these measurements will be discussed in the presentation. Thereafter, a prototype of inline intelligent spectrometer was designed and fabricated to obtain inline non-intrusive and non-destructive measurements of endogenous biomarkers from within living cells in a bioreactor. The capacity of this system to perform a real-time monitoring of fermentations and cell cultures as well as its reliability, its generality and its flexibility will be presented and discussed.

The BioAnalyst, a real-time monitoring system with real-time analytics commercialized by BioIntelligence Technologies inc., was linked with the endogenous biomarkers so as to generate real-time profiles of non-measured variables. This system enables the monitoring of cell dynamics such as biomass growth rate, cell division rate, nutrients consumption rate as well as consumption yields. The results will be discussed for their reliability, usefulness, and capacity to improve the quality of culture monitoring and operational decisions.