The present set of embodiments relate to a bioproduction system, method, and apparatus for creating a scalable bioreactor system. Specifically, the present set of embodiments enable the determination of bioreaction performance characteristics of a commercial scale by matching operational parameters between a small test scale bioreaction to that of a commercial scale bioreaction. The system and methods do not rely on simply making bioreactor apparatuses across scales the same dimensionally which would not account for differences in fluid dynamic properties between very small to very large volumes, but requires tuning of a variety of systems (mixing assembly, sparger system, and headspace airflow system) in conjunction with one another to achieve predictive outcomes.

A vessel having a mixer that ensures a homogeneous cell distribution in dispensed quantities. The vessel has a mixer therein for stirring contents of the vessel and an orifice in a lower wall to which a cell dispenser is attached. The cell dispenser dispenses quantities of suspended cells having a homogeneous cell distribution.

The bioreactor may include a single-use, rigid-sided bioreactor vessel containing a fluid to be mixed and a vertical mixing wheel. A perfusion dip tube with a screen filter incorporated on the end is secured to the vessel from the top lid and partially submerged in the fluid, preferably into close proximity with an outer circumference of the vertical mixing wheel. The screen filter of appropriate mesh size allows spent cell culture medium to be withdrawn from the bioreactor vessel while retaining cell aggregates or microcarriers on which cells are attached and growing in the vessel. Alternating flow of fluid out from and into the dip tube enables removal of spent medium and unclogging of the dip tube filter.

A chemostat comprises a chamber containing media with cells; an input tube for delivering nutrient-laden media that support cell growth and division within the chamber at an inflow rate; and an output tube for withdrawing a sample from the chamber at an outflow rate. The inflow and outflow rates are regulated such that the chemostat is operable in a sample accumulation phase in which the outflow rate is zero and the inflow rate increases in proportion to an instantaneous volume of media in the chamber so as to accumulate the sample without changes in a metabolic state within the chamber, or a sample withdrawal phase in which the outflow rate is regulated at a higher rate than the inflow rate to withdraw the accumulated sample from the chamber rapidly at one time and the inflow rate remains in proportion to the instantaneous volume to maintain chemostasis in the chamber.

A fluid mixing system includes a support housing having an interior surface bounding a chamber. A flexible bag is disposed within the chamber of the support housing, the flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a compartment. An impeller is disposed within the chamber of the flexible bag. A drive shaft is coupled with the impeller such that rotation of the drive shaft facilitates rotation of the impeller. A drive motor assembly is coupled with the draft shaft and is adapted to rotate the drive shaft. An adjustable arm assembly is coupled with the drive motor assembly and is adapted to move the drive motor assembly which in turn moves the position of the drive shaft and impeller. An electrical controller can control movement of the adjustable arm.

Materials and methods to control a nutrient feed in a cell culture process is provided. A sample is received from a bioreactor comprising a cell culture. A viable cell density and a residual nutrient measurement are determined from the received sample. A daily nutrient feeding target is calculated based on the viable cell density and the residual nutrient measurement. The nutrient is fed to the bioreactor according to the calculated daily nutrient feeding target.

A process for optimizing the operation of a plug-flow fermenter for the anaerobic fermentation of organic wastes, wherein the plug-flow fermenter comprises a horizontally oriented fermenter tank and a stirrer, which stirrer comprises a stirrer shaft which traverses the interior of the fermenter tank in an axial manner and multiple paddles which are arranged on the stirrer shaft and protrude radially and also a drive, and the fermentation material is moved in the fermenter tank by means of the stirrer.

Disclosed is an impeller for mixing a fluid wherein the impeller is fashioned so as to substantially reduce areas of fluid acceleration and deceleration around a hub region of the impeller during fluid mixing. Additionally, a bioreactor system having microcarriers, kit of parts and cell culturing method are also provided. The impeller has a generally circularly shaped hub having a downwardly directed progressively tapered volume which has plurality of periods formed therein corresponding to the number of increasingly arced blades. Each of the increasingly arced blades flare outwards to a distal end region of the impeller and have an increasing radius to said arc towards a peripheral edge region of said hub. The flare to the increasingly arced blades defines a larger circumference than that of said hub, thereby imparting a generally frusto-conical shape to the impeller. A method mixing a fluid using the impeller disclosed herein is also disclosed.

A fluid mixing system includes a support housing having an interior surface bounding a chamber. A flexible bag is disposed within the chamber of the support housing, the flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a compartment. An impeller is disposed within the chamber of the flexible bag. A drive shaft is coupled with the impeller such that rotation of the drive shaft facilitates rotation of the impeller. A drive motor assembly is coupled with the draft shaft and is adapted to rotate the drive shaft. An adjustable arm assembly is coupled with the drive motor assembly and is adapted to move the drive motor assembly which in turn moves the position of the drive shaft and impeller. An electrical controller can control movement of the adjustable arm.

A biological production system includes a mixing vessel and an agitation device. The mixing vessel includes an outer housing, an internal mixing structure, and a reaction chamber. The mixing vessel is configured to provide low shear agitation to materials in the reaction chamber in response to force from the agitation device.