KINETIC-STUDIES ON HYBRIDOMA CELLS IMMOBILIZED IN FIXED-BED REACTORS

Cultures with immobilized hybridoma cells were performed in fixed bed systems. ''Steady state'' values for volume-specific substrate uptake and metabolite production rates were determined at various perfusion r ates and superficial flow velocities of the medium within the carrier matrix. Data from fixed bed volumes between 50 and 600 ml did not show any difference. The volume-specific glutamine and glucose uptake rate turned out to be independent of the superficial flow velocity, but de creased with decreasing glutamine and glucose concentration. The volum e-specific oxygen uptake rate increased with increasing superficial fl ow velocity and substrate concentration, respectively. A similar behav ior was observed for the ratio between oxygen and glucose uptake rate. The production rate for monoclonal antibodies was neither affected by the substrate concentration nor by the superficial flow velocity. The metabolic parameters of the immobilized cells were put into kinetic e quations and compared to those of suspended cells. It could be conclud ed that the metabolism of the immobilized cells is determined by the o xygen supply within the macroporous carriers. (C) 1997 John Wiley & So ns, Inc.