CELLS AND BUBBLES IN SPARGED BIOREACTORS

Ever since animal cells have been grown in-vitro, various techniques h ave been used to supply the cells with oxygen. The most simple and com monly used 'large-scale' technique to provide oxygen is through the in troduction of gas bubbles. However, almost since the beginning of in-v itro cell culture, empirical observations have indicated that bubbles can be detrimental to the cells. This review will discuss the backgrou nd of the problem, review the relevant research on the topic, attempt to provide a coherent summary of what we know from all of this researc h, and finally outline what still needs to be investigated. Specific t opics to be covered include: experimental correlations of cell damage with bubbles, cell attachment to bubbles, the hydrodynamics of bubble rupture, bioreactor studies, visualization studies, and computer simul ations and qualification of cell death as a result of bubble rupture.