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Viebrock K, Rabl D, Meinen S, Wunder P, Meyer JA, Frey LJ, Rasch D, Dietzel A, Mayr T, Krull R. Microsensor in Microbioreactors: Full Bioprocess Characterization in a Novel Capillary-Wave Microbioreactor. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:bios12070512. [PMID: 35884315 PMCID: PMC9312480 DOI: 10.3390/bios12070512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Microbioreactors (MBRs) with a volume below 1 mL are promising alternatives to established cultivation platforms such as shake flasks, lab-scale bioreactors and microtiter plates. Their main advantages are simple automatization and parallelization and the saving of expensive media components and test substances. These advantages are particularly pronounced in small-scale MBRs with a volume below 10 µL. However, most described small-scale MBRs are lacking in process information from integrated sensors due to limited space and sensor technology. Therefore, a novel capillary-wave microbioreactor (cwMBR) with a volume of only 7 µL has the potential to close this gap, as it combines a small volume with integrated sensors for biomass, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO) and glucose concentration. In the cwMBR, pH and DO are measured by established luminescent optical sensors on the bottom of the cwMBR. The novel glucose sensor is based on a modified oxygen sensor, which measures the oxygen uptake of glucose oxidase (GOx) in the presence of glucose up to a concentration of 15 mM. Furthermore, absorbance measurement allows biomass determination. The optical sensors enabled the characterization of an Escherichia coli batch cultivation over 8 h in the cwMBR as proof of concept for further bioprocesses. Hence, the cwMBR with integrated optical sensors has the potential for a wide range of microscale bioprocesses, including cell-based assays, screening applications and process development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Viebrock
- Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany; (K.V.); (P.W.); (J.-A.M.); (L.J.F.); (D.R.)
- Center of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany; (S.M.); (A.D.)
| | - Dominik Rabl
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Technische Universität Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; (D.R.); (T.M.)
| | - Sven Meinen
- Center of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany; (S.M.); (A.D.)
- Institute of Microtechnology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Paul Wunder
- Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany; (K.V.); (P.W.); (J.-A.M.); (L.J.F.); (D.R.)
- Center of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany; (S.M.); (A.D.)
| | - Jan-Angelus Meyer
- Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany; (K.V.); (P.W.); (J.-A.M.); (L.J.F.); (D.R.)
- Center of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany; (S.M.); (A.D.)
| | - Lasse Jannis Frey
- Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany; (K.V.); (P.W.); (J.-A.M.); (L.J.F.); (D.R.)
- Center of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany; (S.M.); (A.D.)
| | - Detlev Rasch
- Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany; (K.V.); (P.W.); (J.-A.M.); (L.J.F.); (D.R.)
- Center of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany; (S.M.); (A.D.)
| | - Andreas Dietzel
- Center of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany; (S.M.); (A.D.)
- Institute of Microtechnology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Torsten Mayr
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Technische Universität Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; (D.R.); (T.M.)
| | - Rainer Krull
- Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany; (K.V.); (P.W.); (J.-A.M.); (L.J.F.); (D.R.)
- Center of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany; (S.M.); (A.D.)
- Correspondence:
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3D-printed micro bubble column reactor with integrated microsensors for biotechnological applications: From design to evaluation. Sci Rep 2021; 11:7276. [PMID: 33790348 PMCID: PMC8012708 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86654-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
With the technological advances in 3D printing technology, which are associated with ever-increasing printing resolution, additive manufacturing is now increasingly being used for rapid manufacturing of complex devices including microsystems development for laboratory applications. Personalized experimental devices or entire bioreactors of high complexity can be manufactured within few hours from start to finish. This study presents a customized 3D-printed micro bubble column reactor (3D-µBCR), which can be used for the cultivation of microorganisms (e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and allows online-monitoring of process parameters through integrated microsensor technology. The modular 3D-µBCR achieves rapid homogenization in less than 1 s and high oxygen transfer with kLa values up to 788 h−1 and is able to monitor biomass, pH, and DOT in the fluid phase, as well as CO2 and O2 in the gas phase. By extensive comparison of different reactor designs, the influence of the geometry on the resulting hydrodynamics was investigated. In order to quantify local flow patterns in the fluid, a three-dimensional and transient multiphase Computational Fluid Dynamics model was successfully developed and applied. The presented 3D-µBCR shows enormous potential for experimental parallelization and enables a high level of flexibility in reactor design, which can support versatile process development.
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Frey LJ, Vorländer D, Rasch D, Meinen S, Müller B, Mayr T, Dietzel A, Grosch JH, Krull R. Defining mass transfer in a capillary wave micro-bioreactor for dose-response and other cell-based assays. Biochem Eng J 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2020.107667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Microbioreactors for Process Development and Cell-Based Screening Studies. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2020; 179:67-100. [PMID: 32712680 DOI: 10.1007/10_2020_130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Microbioreactors (MBRs) have emerged as potent cultivation devices enabling automated small-scale experiments in parallel while enhancing their cost efficiency. The widespread use of MBRs has contributed to recent advances in industrial and pharmaceutical biotechnology, and they have proved to be indispensable tools in the development of many modern bioprocesses. Being predominantly applied in early stage process development, they open up new fields of research and enhance the efficacy of biotechnological product development. Their reduced reaction volume is associated with numerous inherent advantages - particularly the possibility for enabling parallel screening operations that facilitate high-throughput cultivations with reduced sample consumption (or the use of rare and expensive educts). As a result, multiple variables can be examined in a shorter time and with a lower expense. This leads to a simultaneous acceleration of research and process development along with decreased costs.MBRs range from simple miniaturized cultivations vessels (i.e., in the milliliter scale with limited possibilities for process control) to highly complex and automated small-scale microreactors with integrated sensors that allow for comprehensive screenings in very short time or a precise reflection of large-scale cultivation conditions. Progressive developments and improvements in manufacturing and automation techniques are already helping researchers to make use of the advantages that MBRs offer. This overview of current MBR systems surveys the diverse application for microbial and mammalian cell cultivations that have been developed in recent years.
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Shanko ES, van de Burgt Y, Anderson PD, den Toonder JMJ. Microfluidic Magnetic Mixing at Low Reynolds Numbers and in Stagnant Fluids. MICROMACHINES 2019; 10:mi10110731. [PMID: 31671753 PMCID: PMC6915455 DOI: 10.3390/mi10110731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Microfluidic mixing becomes a necessity when thorough sample homogenization is required in small volumes of fluid, such as in lab-on-a-chip devices. For example, efficient mixing is extraordinarily challenging in capillary-filling microfluidic devices and in microchambers with stagnant fluids. To address this issue, specifically designed geometrical features can enhance the effect of diffusion and provide efficient mixing by inducing chaotic fluid flow. This scheme is known as “passive” mixing. In addition, when rapid and global mixing is essential, “active” mixing can be applied by exploiting an external source. In particular, magnetic mixing (where a magnetic field acts to stimulate mixing) shows great potential for high mixing efficiency. This method generally involves magnetic beads and external (or integrated) magnets for the creation of chaotic motion in the device. However, there is still plenty of room for exploiting the potential of magnetic beads for mixing applications. Therefore, this review article focuses on the advantages of magnetic bead mixing along with recommendations on improving mixing in low Reynolds number flows (Re ≤ 1) and in stagnant fluids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eriola-Sophia Shanko
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Microsystems Research Section, and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
| | - Yoeri van de Burgt
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Microsystems Research Section, and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
| | - Patrick D Anderson
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Polymer Technology Research Section, and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
| | - Jaap M J den Toonder
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Microsystems Research Section, and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
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Meinen S, Frey LJ, Krull R, Dietzel A. Resonant Mixing in Glass Bowl Microbioreactor Investigated by Microparticle Image Velocimetry. MICROMACHINES 2019; 10:mi10050284. [PMID: 31035561 PMCID: PMC6562785 DOI: 10.3390/mi10050284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Revised: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Microbioreactors are gaining increased interest in biopharmaceutical research. Due to their decreasing size, the parallelization of multiple reactors allows for simultaneous experiments. This enables the generation of high amounts of valuable data with minimal consumption of precious pharmaceutical substances. However, in bioreactors of all scales, fast mixing represents a crucial condition. Efficient transportation of nutrients to the cells ensures good growing conditions, homogeneous environmental conditions for all cultivated cells, and therefore reproducible and valid data. For these reasons, a new type of batch microbioreactor was developed in which any moving mixer component is rendered obsolete through the utilization of capillary surface waves for homogenization. The bioreactor was fabricated in photosensitive glass and its fluid volume of up to 8 µL was provided within a bowl-shaped volume. External mechanical actuators excited capillary surface waves and stereo microparticle image velocimetry (µPIV) was used to analyze resulting convection at different excitation conditions in varied reactor geometries. Typical vortex patterns were observed at certain resonance frequencies where best mixing conditions occurred. Based on the results, a simplified 1D model which predicts resonance frequencies was evaluated. Cultivation of Escherichia coli BL21 under various mixing conditions showed that mixing in resonance increased the biomass growth rate, led to high biomass concentrations, and provided favorable growth conditions. Since glass slides containing multiple bowl reactors can be excited as a whole, massive parallelization is foreseen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Meinen
- Institute of Microtechnology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany.
- Center of Pharmaceutical Engineering (PVZ), Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany.
| | - Lasse Jannis Frey
- Center of Pharmaceutical Engineering (PVZ), Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany.
- Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany.
| | - Rainer Krull
- Center of Pharmaceutical Engineering (PVZ), Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany.
- Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany.
| | - Andreas Dietzel
- Institute of Microtechnology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany.
- Center of Pharmaceutical Engineering (PVZ), Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany.
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