Design, experimental optimization, and flow analysis of a novel bioreactor for dynamic mammalian cell culture at laboratory scale using Box-Behnken design

• Published in: Chemical engineering research & design 2024-11, Vol.211, p.202-211
• Main Authors: Govara, Sepehr, Hosseinalipour, S.M., Soleimani, Masoud
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bioreactor; Box-Behnken; Characterization; Optimization; Stirred Tank; Vibromixer
• ISSN: 0263-8762
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cherd.2024.10.008

Improving the quality of dynamic cell culture in laboratories is an important field in bioengineering. In this study, a novel lab-scale bioreactor using a vibrating agitator and a modified flask has been introduced to create a strong mixing at low shear stress. This bioreactor has been optimized using Box-Behnken design based on three dimensionless important structural factors including disc diameter, vibration amplitude, and the height of the disc placement. Three growth indicators including the specific growth rate, the natural logarithm of the maximum cell density, and productivity have been considered as biological responses. The results show that the disc diameter has the most important role in these indicators. If the disc diameter, vibration amplitude, and the height of disc placement are set to 0.24, 0.02, and 0.4 of the flask diameter, respectively, the values of the specific growth rate, the maximum cell density, and productivity at this optimum settings are 0.033 (h−1), 13.11, and 5133 (cells/(mL.h)), respectively. These values of the indicators are high and indicate the better performance of this bioreactor than other lab-scale bioreactors. In addition, investigating Reynolds number in the fluid flow indicates that in the range of 780 up to 1150, growth indices are high. [Display omitted] •A novel stirred bioreactor at a laboratory scale with a vibrating disc, a modified flask, and a simple set-up have been introduced.•Quadratic models of cell growth indices based on mechanical and geometric factors of the bioreactor have been obtained using Box-Behnken design.•Investigating the effect of the factors on biological responses and bioreactor optimization has been done.•Expressions for important dimensionless numbers of the fluid flow have been derived and flow analysis has been conducted based on these numbers.•The performance of the bioreactor has been compared with other common cell culture devices in laboratories.