Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
27.
Adv Biochem Eng Biotechnol
. 2009
Apr 17. Application of disposable
bag-bioreactors in tissue
engineering and for the
production of therapeutic agents.
Eibl R, Eibl D. Zurich University
of Applied Sciences, School of
Life Sciences and Facility
Management, Institute of
Biotechnology, Campus Grüntal,
Wädenswil, , CH-8820,
Switzerland.
regine.eibl@zhaw.ch
In order to increase process efficiency, many
pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have
introduced disposable bag technology over the last
10 years. Because this technology also greatly
reduces the risk of cross-contamination, disposable
bags are preferred in applications in which an
absolute or improved process safety is a necessity,
namely the production of functional tissue for
implantation (tissue engineering), the production of
human cells for the treatment of cancer and immune
system diseases (cellular therapy), the production of
viruses for gene therapies, the production of
therapeutic proteins, and veterinary as well as
human vaccines. Bioreactors with a presterile
cultivation bag made of plastic material are currently
used in both development and manufacturing
processes primarily operating with animal and
human cells at small- and middle-volume scale. Due
to their scalability, hydrodynamic expertise and the
convincing results of oxygen transport efficiency
studies, wave-mixed bioreactors are the most used,
together with stirred-bag bioreactors and static bags,
which have the longest tradition. Starting with a
general overview of disposable bag bioreactors and
their main applications, the following paper
summarizes the working principles and engineering
aspects of bag bioreactors suitable for cell expansion,
formation of functional tissue and production of
therapeutic agents. Furthermore, results from
selected cultivation studies are presented and
discussed.
