Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Tramper

Publications and source records attributed to J Tramper.

79 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Effect of low inoculation density in the scale-up of insect cell cultures.

The scale-up of insect cell cultures and the production of baculovirus with these cultures is dependent on the inoculation density applied. The effect of applying a low inoculation on the specific growth rate and on the duration of the lag phase was tested. Three different cell lines, HzAm1, Ha2302, and Sf21 were tested in a total of five cell line/medium combinations. Growth in suspension culture was examined, and data obtained were fitted with the Gompertz equation. A significant decline in specific growth rate with decreasing inoculation density was observed in all cell line/medium combinations, except for HzAm1. No critical inoculation density, below which no growth would occur, was found. In suspension culture in shake flasks, an inoculation density of 5 x 10(4) cells/mL is achievable, without severely influencing the overall growth rate. A lower inoculation density in suspension culture results in less steps in the scale-up process and might be a tool in bypassing the viral passage effect.

Animals↗

Large-scale production of kappa-carrageenan droplets for gel-bead production: theoretical and practical limitations of size and production rate.

Immobilization of biocatalysts in kappa-carrageenan gel beads is a widely used technique nowadays. Several methods are used to produce the gel beads. The gel-bead production rate is usually sufficient to make the relatively small quantities needed for bench-scale experiments. The droplet diameter can, within limits, be adjusted to the desired size, but it is difficult to predict because of the non-Newtonian fluid behavior of the kappa-carrageenan solution. Here we present the further scale-up of the extrusion technique with the theory to predict the droplet diameters for non-Newtonian fluids. The emphasis is on the droplet formation, which is the rate-limiting step in this extrusion technique. Uniform droplets were formed by breaking up a capillary jet with a sinusoidal signal of a vibration exciter. At the maximum production rate of 27.6 dm3/h, uniform droplets with a diameter of (2.1 +/- 0.12) x 10(-3) m were obtained. This maximum flow rate was limited by the power transfer of the vibration exciter to the liquid flow. It was possible to get a good prediction of the droplet diameter by estimating the local viscosity from shear-rate calculations and an experimental relation between the shear rate and viscosity. In this way the theory of Newtonian fluids could be used for the non-Newtonian kappa-carrageenan solution. The calculated optimal break-up frequencies and droplet sizes were in good agreement with those found in the experiments.

Biotechnology↗

Effect of silicone antifoam on shear sensitivity of hybridoma cells in sparged cultures.

Addition of high concentrations of silicone antifoam (AF) to a suspension of hybridoma cells in a bubble column reduces the death rate when using medium without a protective component. In contrast, high AF concentrations can cause detrimental effects in a sparged medium with a protective component, such as is applied for large-scale animal cell cultures.

Animals↗

Continuous beta-galactosidase production in insect cells with a p10 gene based baculovirus vector in a two-stage bioreactor system.

Continuous production of polyhedra or baculovirus-expressed proteins in insect cell cultures is limited to about 4 weeks. The decrease in production has been ascribed to the interference of defective deletion mutants with wild-type baculoviruses. The deleted genome sequences include the polyhedrin gene (or the heterologous gene of interest); in the remaining part, the major late p10 gene is always maintained. In the present study, the productivity of a recombinant baculovirus with the lacZ gene from Escherichia coli cloned downstream of the p10 promoter at the p10 locus was investigated. It was hypothesized that this p10 promoter driven gene is preserved over a longer period of time in a continuously operated two-stage bioreactor system than foreign genes behind the polyhedrin promoter at the polyhedrin locus. In two separate runs, beta-galactosidase production with the p10-lacZ recombinant reached quasi-steady-state levels of 30 and 60 units/cm3. Polyhedron production was about 3 x 10(6) and 6 x 10(6) polyhedra/cm3, respectively. However, both polyhedron and beta-galactosidase production decreased after about 30 days of relatively constant production. In the infection reactor, deletion mutants of the virus, which contained both the polyhedrin and lacZ gene, were predominant. Therefore, the presence of the polyhedrin or p10 gene alone in deletion mutants is not sufficient for prolonged expression; other genes involved in major late gene expression and not present in the deleted virus are probably necessary.

Animals↗

Sucrose conversion by immobilized invertase in a multiple air-lift loop bioreactor.

A new bioreactor series within one vessel, the multiple air-lift loop reactor (MAL), is introduced. In the MAL, a series of air-lift loop reactors is incorporated into one vessel. From residence time distribution studies, it was shown that the three-compartment MAL behaves as a series of three ideal mixers. A continuously operated MAL, containing immobilized invertase as a model biocatalyst, was evaluated. The advantage of approaching plug flow by using a bioreactor cascade could be shown by comparing substrate conversion in the three-compartment MAL to that in a single vessel at the same overall dilution rate. This was done for two sets of experimental conditions, which were chosen by using a previously developed model. Intrinsic kinetic parameters of the immobilized enzyme, needed for the model calculations, were determined experimentally. Model calculations gave good approximations of the results. The model incorporates external mass-transfer resistance and diffusion and reaction in the biocatalyst beads.

Biotechnology↗

Hybridoma and CHO cell partitioning in aqueous two-phase systems.

The partitioning of mouse/mouse hybridoma cell line BIF6A7, mouse/rat hybridoma PFU-83, and CHO DUKX B11-derived cell line BIC-2 in aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and dextran was studied. The partitioning of BIF6A7 was investigated systematically by using a statistical experimental design. The aims were to identify the key factors governing cell partitioning and to select ATPSs with suitable cell partitioning for extractive bioconversions with animal cells. The influence of five factors, i.e., the poly(ethylene glycol) molecular weight (PEG MW), dextran molecular weight (Dx MW), tie-line length (TLL), pH, and the ratio of potassium phosphate to potassium chloride, defined as the fraction KPi/(KPi + KCl), on BIF6A7 cell partitioning was characterized by using a full factorial experimental design. The cell partitioning ranged from complete partitioning into the interface to an almost complete partitioning to the lower phase. In all cases less than 1% of the cells partitioned to the top phase. The potassium phosphate fraction had the largest effect on cell partitioning. Low potassium phosphate fractions increased the proportion of cells in the lower phase. To a lesser extent the other factors also played a role in the cell partitioning. The best partitioning for the BIF6A7 cell line was obtained in ATPSs with PEG MW = 35,000, Dx MW = 40,000, TLL = 0.10 g/g, pH 7.4, and KPi/(KPi + KCl) = 0.1, where 93% of the cells were present in the lower phase. The previously reported partitioning of BIF6A7 cells in ATPS culture medium, corresponded well with the current findings. The partitioning of mouse/rat hybridoma cell line PFU-83 and CHO cell line BIC-2 was studied in an ATPS culture medium with PEG 35,000, dextran 40,000, TLL = 0.12 g/g, and hybridoma culture medium. Both cell lines partitioned almost completely into the lower phase. Moreover, the PFU-83 cell line was able to grow in the ATPS hybridoma culture medium. This ATPS hybridoma culture medium therefore seems to be suitable for extractive bioconversions with a wide range of hybridoma cell lines, provided that their product can be partitioned into the upper PEG-rich phase.

Animals↗

Effect of oxygen tension on adult articular chondrocytes in microcarrier bioreactor culture.

Tissue-engineering approaches for cartilage repair hold promise for the treatment of cartilage defects. Various methods to prevent or reduce dedifferentiation during chondrocyte expansion are currently under investigation. In the present study we evaluated the effect of oxygen on chondrocyte proliferation, as oxygen has received increased attention as a possible regulator of chondrocyte differentiation and its effect during expansion is uncertain. Therefore, the effect of three oxygen tensions (4, 10.5, and 21%) was investigated in a bioreactor microcarrier culture, which allows precise control of the oxygen tension in the liquid phase. During culture cells acquired a round shape on microcarriers. No differences in proliferation rate of chondrocytes were observed within the range of oxygen tensions evaluated. Cells exhibited predominantly anaerobic metabolism and, per mole of glucose, approximately 2 mol of lactate was produced independent of oxygen tension. Cellular oxygen consumption was comparable for all bioreactor cultures. Nevertheless, specific consumption rates were relatively high (2-4 x 10(-17) mol. cell(-1). s(-1)), in comparison with chondrocytes in cartilage (0.8-2.2 x 10(-18) mol. cell(-1)). Subsequent cartilaginous tissue formation in pellets was not affected as qualitatively assessed by safranin-O staining. At the oxygen concentrations evaluated, no effect of oxygen tension was observed on proliferation, oxygen consumption, and yield of lactate on glucose administration. For future investigations of chondrocytes and oxygen, the bioreactor system, which allows precise control and monitoring of oxygen tension, holds promise.

Adult↗