Scale-down simulators for metabolic analysis of large-scale bioprocesses.
Curr Opin Biotechnol 2010;
21:114-21. [PMID:
20185293 DOI:
10.1016/j.copbio.2010.02.001]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2009] [Revised: 02/02/2010] [Accepted: 02/02/2010] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Analytical approaches for a comprehensive understanding of the metabolic networks in microbial cultures are mostly based on small-scale cultures which are in a steady state or undergo dynamic changes. For drawing conclusions to industrial-scale bioprocesses, however, it is important to understand that cells in large-scale bioreactors are exposed steadily to fast changes, because of an inhomogeneous environment. Analytical approaches that aim for large-scale bioprocess understanding need to apply specific laboratory simulators. Recent developments in cell cultivation techniques and computational tools provide improved possibilities to evaluate how a process will behave in the final scale. These simulators will pave the way for screening robust strains and process conditions.
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