Title
From concept to implementation: How automation enables efficiency gains in cell culture process development
Conference Dates
July 16-20, 2017
Abstract
In this talk we will provide you an overview on how we developed a fully automated MTP based cell culture system and how it was implemented in our routine cell culture development operations unit. We will take you on a journey from designing the automation concept, integrating off-the-shelf laboratory equipment, scaling down cell culture processes to finally showing the successful implementation based on a case study in late stage cell culture development. Main points that will be covered include the selection of the right hard- and labware by application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, challenges in miniaturization and automation of manual processes as well as procedures to ensure process robustness. Our in-house developed automated cell culture system is set up to be generic and utilizes 24 well plates as cultivation system in shaken mode. It is based on off-the-shelf commercial laboratory automation equipment and enables a fully automated process workflow including plate transport, seeding and feeding of cells, daily sampling and preparation of assays. The integration of a wide range of analytical instrumentation into the system allows a hands-off operation preventing a potential bottleneck in sample processing. Since more than 600 fed-batch cultivations can be handled in parallel our system is ideally suited for the screening of a wide range of process conditions. Combining the automation technologies in the fields of cell culture and product quality analytics enables the high throughput screening of a broad range of product quality attributes which makes this technology ideal for the process development. In a case study we will show you the suitability of our system for the purpose of product quality optimization. We could demonstrate that the results from the automated multi-well plates are predictive for the bioreactor and we established the system for the routine use of product quality optimization
Recommended Citation
Sven Markert, "From concept to implementation: How automation enables efficiency gains in cell culture process development" in "Biochemical and Molecular Engineering XX", Wilfred Chen, University of Delaware, USA Nicole Borth, Universität für Bodenkultur, Vienna, Austria Stefanos Grammatikos, UCB Pharma, Belgium Eds, ECI Symposium Series, (2017). https://dc.engconfintl.org/biochem_xx/100