Biomass and aggregation analysis of human embryonic kidney 293 suspension cell cultures by particle size measurement

A method has been developed to monitor the cell growth of aggregated human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) suspension cultures by measuring cumulative p article volume and the particle size distribution. This method employs a pa rticle size analyzer that determines the size of individual particles by de tecting their light obscuration (blockage) or scattering. Cell counts deriv ed from the cumulative volume of the cell particle correlate well with manu al cell counts from a hemacytometer at different stages of growth. This cor relation was further confirmed by quantifying total cellular protein of the samples. Simultaneously, the aggregation state of the samples can also be monitored and mathematically described. Results from this study demonstrate that this simple and reproducible method allows the direct measurement of cumulative cell volume and the degree of cell aggregation, as well as an in direct assessment of cell counts.