BATCH AND SEMICONTINUOUS AGGREGATION AND SEDIMENTATION OF HYBRIDOMA CELLS BY ACOUSTIC-RESONANCE FIELDS

Ultrasound was used to enhance the sedimentation of hybridoma cells fr om medium in a 75 mL resonator chamber. Forces in the acoustic standin g waves aggregated the cells, and the aggregates were then rapidly sed imented by gravity. Cell separation increased with acoustic treatment time and cell concentration. The separation efficiency was over 97% fo r cell concentrations between 10(6) and 10(7) cells/mL. During acousti c treatment at 180 W/L, the medium temperature increased at a rate of 1.3 degrees C/min. Ultrasonic exposures up to 220 W/L did not influenc e the viability or subsequent growth and antibody production of the ce lls. A decrease in cell viability was observed at a power level of 260 W/L. Batch separation efficiencies were as high as 98%. Acoustic sepa ration was tested under semicontinuous operation, and above 90% separa tion efficiency was achieved at a flow rate of 0.7 L/h.