D. Lowrey et al., A COMPARISON OF MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY PRODUCTIVITY IN DIFFERENT HOLLOW-FIBER BIOREACTORS, Journal of biotechnology, 36(1), 1994, pp. 35-38
Cell culture in hollow fiber bioreactors has been used as a method for
large-scale production of monoclonal antibodies, viruses, cell-associ
ated proteins and cancer antigens. We have examined an important varia
ble in culturing cells in hollow fiber bioreactors: bioreactor composi
tion. Eight different bioreactor designs which varied in nominal molec
ular weight cutoff, surface area, fiber material and ultra filtration
rate were compared in large-scale hollow fiber cultures. A standard pr
otocol utilizing the hybridoma 3C11 (ATCC HB 8511) or African green mo
nkey kidney cells (Vero cells, ATCC CRL 1587) was designed so that the
only variable examined was the hollow fiber bioreactor in use. The re
sults suggest that surface area has little effect on antibody producti
vity, while fiber composition and ultrafiltration rate may play an imp
ortant role. Vero cell growth was affected by both fiber composition a
nd ultrafiltration rate.