With the growth in biologicals and vaccines, production of cell cultures in large volumes can be a rate limiting step in the manufacturing process. This recent study by ATMI and SoloHill illustrates the beneficial use of microcarriers in conjunction with disposable bioreactors.
Microcarriers are small particles, typically 70µm to 1000µm in size, and come in a variety of shapes, from simple spheres to elongated rods. Since their introduction in the late 1960s, microcarriers have progressed to become an essential tool in the scale-up and manufacture of many cell-based processes. They are made from a range of materials, such as alginates, collagen, dextrin or polystyrene, and used in a wide array of applications with a diverse range of cell types.
Microcarriers can be used for the production of biologicals and vaccines or for expanding cells used in drug and toxicity testing. They can also be used to generate stem cells for cell therapy and regenerative medicines. However, these applications require very different conditions and pose a serious challenge: creating the optimal environment and conditions for cell growth for each individual cell type and culture to ensure good cell yields and quality.
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