Comparison of fluidised bed and ultrasonic cell-retention systems for high cell density mammalian cell culture

High yield and stable fermentation systems is a key to economically viable biopharmaceutical production. We have compared two different scaleable industrial high cell density fermentation systems for the production of recombinant CHO derived human arylsuflatse B (ASB) enzyme used in enzyme replacement therapy of patients suffering mucopolysaccharidosis type VI (NIPS VI), CHO cells were cultivated in both as adherent cell culture on Cytoline(TM) macropourous microcarriers (Pharmacia, Sweden) using a Cytopliot Mini(TM) fluidised bed bioreactor (FBR, Vogelbsuch-Pharmacia) and is suspension culture using a stirred tank bioreactor equipped with a Biosep(TM) ultrasonic resonator based cell separation device (Applicon, Netherlands). Both systems are equally well suited for stable, long term high cell density perfusion cell culture, Both systems provide industrial scaleability and high yields. For products such as the recombinant ASB, high perfusion rates and therefore short product bioreactor residence times may be of additional benefit.