Disposable Reactors to 'Disposable' Plants at Bio '98
Not many equipment manufacturers exhibited at Bio '98, held June 14-18 in New York. That makes sense, since the meeting focused on science, drug discovery, and partnering. One distributor, BioPro International, offered two products that fit nicely into the emerging trends of outsourcing and "virtual" pharmaceutical companies.
The Cellbag Wave Bioreactor, a disposable, scalable (up to 100 liters), sterile plastic pouch, is ideal for process development of cell culture products or production quantities of diagnostic antibodies. Disposable reactors are perhaps the only way for small companies to add bench-scale fermentation capacity without a capital investment. In many cases the disposable reactor pays for itself by not requiring cleaning.
The Wave Bioreactor instantly adds up to 100 liters of fermentation capacity for research, development, or production
Cellbag operates on the principle of wave-induced agitation. Cells are cultured in a presterilized inflated flexible bag, which is mixed and aerated by wave motion from the headspace without bubbles. This motion is generated by an optimized rocking mechanism. No invasive mixer or gas sparging is required. And unlike conventional stirred/agitated bioreactors, shear forces are low and oxygen transfer is not limited by the air-liquid surface.
An even more interesting product offered by BioPro is the Mobile Modular Biotech Plant, a turnkey cGMP facility manufactured by SnamprogettiBiotecnologie (S. Donato Milanese, Italy). The plant consists of four or five preassembled modules, each about the size of a small mobile home, for production and service. Assembled, the "biotech trailer park" measures 40 ft. by 40 ft.
The mobile plant is delivered in sections by truck
Modules are organized and equipped to form a typical biotech bulk production plant capable of producing hybridomas and inoculum preps, as well as for carrying out fermentation, product recovery, and purification. Differential pressures between chambers avoid cross contamination, so products are delivered in bulk, sterile condition.
The modules are equipped with HVAC units, production plants for pure fluids and service air, and specialized entries for passage of material and personnel passage. The interior finish of the production modules incorporates smooth seals, surface, doors and windows, is alkali/acid resistant and easy to clean.
For more information: John Campagnola, Customer Service Manager, BioPro International, Inc., 265 Conklin St., Farmingdale, NY 11735. Tel: 516-249-0099.
By Angelo DePalma