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Damage mechanisms of suspended animal cells in agitated bioreactors with and without bubble entrainment
Author(s) -
Kunas Kurt T.,
Papoutsakis Eleftherios T.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.260360507
Subject(s) - entrainment (biomusicology) , bubble , turbulence , breakup , bioreactor , vortex , mechanics , air entrainment , chemistry , materials science , biophysics , physics , biology , organic chemistry , rhythm , acoustics
Abstract We show that when freely suspended hybridoma cells are cultured in an agitated bioreactor, two fluid‐mechanical mechanisms can cause cell damage and growth retardation. The first is present only when there is a gas phase, and is associated with vortex formation accompanied by bubble entrainment and breakup. In the absence of a vortex and bubble entrainment, cells can be damaged only at very high agitation rates, above approximately 700 rpm, by stresses in the bulk turbulent liquid. Cell damage then correlates with Kolmogorov eddy sizes similar to or smaller than the cell size. In the absence of a vortex, the entrainment and motion of very fine bubbles cause no growth retardation even at agitation rates as high as 600 rpm.