A two-compartment cell entrapment bioreactor with three different holding times for cells, high and low molecular weight compounds.

A new bioreactor for animal cell cultivation employs two compartments for cells and medium respectively. The two chambers are separated by an ultrafiltration membrane. Cells and solution of collagen or collagen/chitosan mixture were loaded to the cell chamber and were allowed to form gel inside. Contraction of the cell-laden gel occurred subsequently to create a new zone in the cell chamber. In such a bioreactor cells are retained in the reactor, the high molecular product(s) accumulate in the cell chamber, while the small molecular weight nutrients and metabolites are replenished and removed from the medium chamber. By adjusting the flow rates for cell and medium chambers, the resident time for cells, high and low molecular weight components of the system can be manipulated separately. The new bioreactor, in both flat-bed and hollow-fiber configurations, was used to cultivate recombinant human cell, 293, for Protein C production over 60 to 90 days.