A Fluidized Bed Reactor for the Cultivation of Animal Cells

Abstract

The development of a fluidized bed reactor for animal cell culture is described. Using both solid (Polysciences) and porous (Siran) glass beads, BHK cells have been grown to densities of 4x107 cells ml−1. Using external-loop oxygenation, the accurate measurements of online oxygen uptake rates were possible, which correlated well with the changing reactor conditions, as well as with the glucose and lactate uptake rates.