Research Focus
Bioreactors

In contrast to static culture techniques involving the accumulation of waste products and intermittent nutrient supply, continuously perfused primary cells in bioreactors experience a homeostatic environment that helps to maintain their differentiated status. Integral decentralized oxygensupply supports three-dimensional cell re-organization at high tissue densities. Bioreacors thus offer long-term cell maintenance, controlled cell differentiation as well as cell production or production of substances for regenerative medicine. Corresponding pump systems are required for such bioreactors.

The device is based on a modular approach, with exchangeable units that control temperature, medium flow, gas supply and pressure conditions. Pressure-controlled perfusion enables various flow configurations for high-performance mass exchange.
The system can be modified according to the requirements of the user:

• The use of different bioreactor principles and the application of different modes of operation are facilitated by the fact that medium supply and medium re-circulation are separated and pumps pressure controlled.
• Independent circuits enable perfusion with convective/ diffusive mass exchange and counter-directional flow (cross perfusion) of independent membrane bundles in bioreactors.
• Bioreactors with a cell compartment capacity of between 0,5 ml and 1000 ml can be used by employing a range of different pump heads.
• Adaptable disposable tube circuits with a range of pump segments and attachments are available. Integrated ports allow the sterile addition of substances, the removal of samples for biochemical monitoring or connection to online analytical devices.

The modular bioreactor operating system is composed of a temperature-controlled heating unit, a pressure/flowregulated pump control unit with various pump modules and a gas unit with flow-meters, CO2 bottle and air compressor.

• Heating unit
  temperature 25°C – 40°C, two lamp-heated air fan systems
• Various bioreactor receptacles
  for 0.5 ml – 1000 ml bioreactors
• Pump control unit
  flow regulation, pressure control: -300 to +350 mmHg
• Gas unit
  2 – 20 ml/min CO2, 30 – 300 ml/min air
• Pump modules
  1–900 ml/h, 1–150 ml/min, 10–600 ml/min,
  3 sizes of roller tube pumps with corresponding pump heads and
  the option of multi-channel pumping with one head