A New Paradigm for Suspension Cultures

The innovative Vertical-Wheel® impeller is the key to providing optimal fluid mixing conditions for sensitive therapeutic cells.

Create The Ideal Environment For Cell Therapy Products

Rotation of the Vertical-Wheel impeller within the distinctive U-shaped vessel fully suspends and gently agitates anchorage-dependent human cells that are sensitive to a bioreactor's hydrodynamic conditions. Critically, cell culture processes and hydrodynamic conditions optimized at small scale can be consistently replicated at progressively larger volumes.

Benefits of Vertical-Wheel Mixing for Therapeutic Cells

Consistent Morphology of Cell Aggregates
  • Complete particle suspension possible while maintaining a narrow distribution of energy dissipation rates (EDR)
  • Homogenous mixing environment promotes formation of circular aggregates of similar diameters
Minimal Shear Stress to Cells on Microcarriers
  • Minimal power input to impeller sufficient for consistent fluid flow patterns without hot zones of high turbulence and shear stress
  • Kolmogrorov eddy lengths are large enough to avoid shearing effects on surface-attached cells
True Scalability of Your Cell Culture Process
  • Process parameters optimized at small scale can be recreated at larger volumes with predictable results
  • A scalable bioreactor platform to meet your manufacturing and regulatory requirements

Consistency of Homogeneous Conditions During Scale Up

PBS-0.1 at various agitation rates
PBS-0.5 at various agitation rates
PBS-3 at various agitation rates
PBS-15 at various agitation rates

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models indicate that narrow distributions of energy dissipation rates (EDR) can be achieved at various agitation rates and volumes of Vertical-Wheel bioreactors (not to scale). The reproducibility of homogenous EDR conditions is essential for optimal and scalable production of therapeutic cells, particularly those grown as aggregates.

Effects of Vertical-Wheel Hydrodynamics on Therapeutic Cells

Cells as Self-Forming Aggregates
Homogenous EDR conditions promote formation of spherical aggregates, with inverse correlation between diameter and agitation rate. Heterogenous mixing in horizontal-blade impellers results in variable morphologies.
Cells on Surface of Microcarriers
Large particles such as microcarriers can be fully suspended with minimal power input to Vertical-Wheel impeller, resulting in turbulent fluid flow and larger eddies that avoid shearing effects on surface-attached cells.

PBS Product line

Start small and we grow with your business

PBS-Mini

PBS-3

PBS-15

PBS-80

PBS-Mini

The entry-level tool for representative process development. 0.1 and 0.5 L maximum working volumes available.

PBS-3

Take your process development to the next level with this full feature bioreactor. 3L maximum working volume.

PBS-15

Continue your cell culture process scale up for clinical stage production. 15L maximum working volume.

PBS-80

Prepare for commercial-scale manufacturing of your cell therapy products. 80L maximum working volume.

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