Optimal experiment design for dynamic bioprocesses: A multi-objective approach

Dynamic process models can be used for operating, controlling and optimising important bioprocesses, e.g., pharmaceuticals production, enzyme production and brewing. After selecting an appropriate process model structure, parameter estimates have to be obtained based on real-life experiments. To reduce the amount of labour and often cost intensive experiments optimal experiment design (OED) is an indispensable tool. In optimal experiment design, dynamic input profiles have to be determined in order to obtain informative experiments. In the particular case of optimal experiment design for parameter estimation, a scalar measure of the Fisher Information Matrix is used as an objective function. Over the years, different criteria have been developed. However, the important question that remains is which criterion to choose. In this work, an approach to tackle the criterion selection is presented. In addition, a multi-objective optimisation approach is implemented, which enables to combine two, often competing optimisation criteria. The developed approach is illustrated with two case studies. The first case study is a fed-batch bioreactor model and the second case study is a Lotka Volterra fishing model. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.