SSB Integrates Automated Cell Culture Analyzer and Micro-Bioreactor

Sartorius Stedim Biotech’s (SSB) ambr 15 automated micro-bioreactor system combined with a Nova Biomedical (Nova) BioProfile FLEX2 automated cell culture analyzer was shown for the first time at the Cell Line Development & Engineering Conference in San Diego, California, SSB announced in a June 5, 2017 press release. This newly integrated system, which is a first from SSB and Nova’s collaboration, enables rapid, at-line sample collection and analysis of massive quantities of key cell culture data. 

SSB and Nova have collaborated to integrate the software interface that controls the ambr 15 workstation for automated parallel processing of 24 or 48 single-use bioreactors (10–15-mL working volume) with the cell culture analysis capabilities of the BioProfile FLEX2. The combined system provides a tool to simultaneously run, sample, and analyze a massive number of cell culture conditions during cell line and media development by design of experiments for quality-by-design studies.

The combination enables fully integrated automatic sample transfer, analysis, and automated feedback control in each single-use ambr 15 bioreactor. Cell-culture data that can be collected includes total and viable cell density; viability; cell diameter; pH; PCO2; PO2; glucose; lactate; glutamine; glutamate; ammonium; sodium, potassium, and calcium ions; and osmolality, which can be sampled and measured with a complete cycle time of just six to seven minutes. The ambr 15 software simultaneously acquires the BioProfile FLEX2 data set and processes it, for example, by performing complex in-run calculations of how much feed volume to automatically add during a run, which saves time by increasing the amount of consistent clone selection, media development, and culture parameter data that a scientist can generate per run.  

“There is a significant demand for fully automated cell culture analysis of small-volume culture systems like the Sartorius ambr micro bioreactor system,” said Matthew McRae, biotechnology sales product line manager at Nova, in the press release. “We’re excited to have worked with SSB on this integration program because our BioProfile FLEX2 with maintenance-free sensors provides rapid analysis of key cell culture tests using just 265 microliters of sample. As a result, this analyzer is a highly complementary addition to the ambr 15 while maintaining the flexibility and modularity of the first-generation BioProfile FLEX analyzer.” 

Source: SSB