What are the major benefits of the Vertical-Wheel (VW) Bioreactor System over existing technology?
The patented Vertical-Wheel impeller provides precise control over power input for optimized mixing which achieves a homogeneous cell culture environment. While many cell types can be grown in the Vertical-Wheel Bioreactor System, it is especially advantageous for growing sensitive cell types such as pluripotent stem cells, due to the lower shear stress and more uniform energy dissipation rate throughout the full volume of the vessel. All Vertical-Wheel Bioreactors, regardless of size, have the same vessel design and impeller shape, enabling smaller-scale bench-top units to serve as accurate scale-down models for early-stage process development. These processes can then be linearly scaled up to larger production units. This technology can speed up time to market by minimizing common challenges faced during technology transfer as processes scale up from the R&D stage to the GMP clinical and commercial manufacturing stage. Additionally, Vertical-Wheel Bioreactor Systems offer a compact design, fully integrated controls, and an intuitive and user-friendly human-machine interface (HMI).
Which applications work best with Vertical-Wheel impeller technology?
The Vertical-Wheel Bioreactor System is incredibly versatile: MSCs, PSCs, native immune cells, and differentiated cell types including T cells, NK cells, chondrocytes, adipocytes, and beta islet cells have all been cultivated in Vertical-Wheel Bioreactor Systems. Cells have been grown in aggregates, on microcarriers, as embryoid bodies, and as mixed-population cultures in batch, fed-batch, and perfusion modes.
What does the Vertical-Wheel Bioreactor use for agitation?
All Vertical Wheel Bioreactor vessels contain a novel, vertically oriented impeller with bi-directional vanes that rotate via magnetic coupling around a fixed shaft to mix vessel contents.
What is the maximum cell density for Vertical-Wheel Bioreactors?
Vertical-Wheel Bioreactor Systems have proven capable of supporting viable cell densities exceeding 4×10⁶ cells/mL (iPSCs) and 2×10⁶ cells/mL (MSCs). Other tests have shown comparable cell growth performance and productivity between the Vertical-Wheel Bioreactor System and other systems currently on the market, which include both traditional stainless-steel tanks and other single-use systems.