Accelerating strain and process development workflows with a novel single-use bioreactor system

In recent years high throughput automated single-use micro and mini bioreactors have become established as an industry standard approach to cell line screening and process optimisation for biopharm cell culture applications, removing bottlenecks in bioreactor operations, enabling large DOE studies and reducing project timelines. However, significant technical challenges associated with control and maintenance of fast growing microbial cultures (pH & DO control, feeding) have limited the application of these technologies in fermentation processes. In collaboration with Biopharm industry partners, a new platform has been developed for small scale microbial fermentation, supporting high density fed-batch cultures in a high throughput single-use bioreactor format. Both technical system data and industrial biopharm process results will be presented here for the first time, demonstrating the potential of this new bioreactor technology to enable a step change in the capacity and productivity of bioreactor operations in microbial strain and fermentation process development workflows.