Production of PEX protein from QM7 cells cultured in polymer scaffolds in a Taylor–Couette bioreactor

•We produced the anti-tumor PEX protein by transfected QM7 cells in a Taylor–Couette bioreactor.•The yield of PEX protein could be increased about 30 times as compared with control.•The 3D cell culture was achieved in the porous scaffold.•The cells grow well in the Taylor–Couette device without sparging due to sufficient oxygen provided by the bioreactor.

In recent decades, many practical applications were developed with regard to the Taylor–Couette device, for example, reaction, filtration, extraction and bioreactor. In this study, the Taylor–Couette bioreactor was used to culture cells seeded in a biodegradable porous scaffold and produce PEX protein. Two different cell lines (NIH/3T3 and QM7) were seeded into PLGA sponges, which were fabricated using a solvent-free supercritical gas foaming method, and then cultured in the Taylor–Couette bioreactor. Cell proliferation was characterized using Quant-iT™ PicoGreen® dsDNA assay and the results indicated that high mass transfer rate in the Taylor–Couette bioreactor enhanced cell proliferation. Qualitative distribution of live/dead cells was characterized using LIVE/DEAD® Viability/Cytotoxicity assay and SEM and the results showed that cells cultured in static control mainly proliferated on the outer surface while the cells of Taylor-vortex bioreactor group could penetrate into the scaffold. The production yield of PEX protein, from QM7 cells transfected with pM9PEX, was quantified using PEX ELISA and the results showed a much higher PEX mass per scaffold for bioreactor than the control. As such, there is potential for the use of Taylor–Couette bioreactor in the mass production of PEX protein.

Graphical abstractThe Taylor–Couette bioreactor used in this study was demonstrated to achieve increased cell proliferation rate and the better cell distribution in the porous biodegradable scaffolds. The high mass transfer rate of oxygen and nutrient provided by the Taylor vortex could also improve the yield of desired product of PEX protein.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide