Performance of a vortex flow bioreactor for cultivation of CHO-K1 cells on microcarriers

In biochemical processes involving cultivation of animal cells, the design of a bioreactor is important because it should enable the provision of appropriate oxygen and nutrients to the culture medium at low shear stress. The aim of this study is to evaluate a new bioreactor designed and built based on the concept of Taylor vortex flow (Taylor vortex flow bioreactor – TVFB) employed in the cultivation of animal cells. The overall mass transfer volumetric coefficient (KLa) was determined in order to evaluate the oxygen transfer. Mass transfer correlation under Taylor vortex flow regimes were estimated considering the overall volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient operating conditions and the geometry of the bioreactor. Experimental cultures were performed with CHO-K1 (Chinese Hamster Ovary) cells attached to microcarriers in TVFB. Cell culture carried out in the bioreactor exhibited a maximum viable cell concentration (Xmax) of 1.0 × 106 cells/mL with μmax = 2 × 10−2 h−1. Nevertheless, the results of this study suggest that Taylor vortex flow regimes provide an effective oxygen transfer required for animal cell culture with low hydrodynamics shear.