Stratophase, a UK developer of advanced sensor systems, has added the Ranger system to its portfolio for the biopharmaceutical industry that provides real-time, in-line bioprocess monitoring and fermentation control, to increase yields of biologics.
The Ranger system can be integrated into all bioprocessing systems running microbial or mammalian cell cultures, and enables bioprocess managers to monitor and control metabolic rate, observe batch processing trends, and accurately determine end of process.
The system includes Ranger Manager, an intelligent multi-probe management system, and Ranger Probe, a refractive index media sensor, which together give real-time feedback on glucose metabolism. Harnessing refractive index measurements, Ranger monitors the composition and temperature of the bioprocess culture and gives instantaneous insight into process kinetics.
Ranger can be used to determine both the relative batch quality, compared with previous process trends, or to identify and react to key process characteristics. Applications include automated fed batch control of additions into a bioreactor, such as optimising nutrient feed rate to an organism’s requirements in real-time.
Dr Sam Watts, business development officer, and founder of Stratophase, said: ‘In the design and development of Ranger we aimed to address Process Analytical Technology (PAT), the US FDA’s call for improvements in bioprocessing through advanced monitoring techniques during manufacture. Ranger will enable users to improve consistency, reduce waste, and increase yields in their biopharmaceutical manufacture processing.’
Ranger stainless steel probes are compatible with standard sensor housings and ports, permitting probe installation across a range of bioreactor volumes. They are reusable and designed to withstand standard cleaning and sterilisation procedures used with existing bioprocess sensors.
The control units allow four or eight probes to be deployed in parallel and are designed for laboratory bench-top use, pilot-scale environments, and full production scale. Users can choose to employ the control unit as a standalone data recorder, or interface it directly with data handling or control systems using optional OPC or analogue connectivity.
