The Automation Partnership (TAP) is previewing its Advanced Microscale Bioreactor (AMBR) technology on booth 914 at the Bioprocess International Conference in Raleigh, US.
AMBR is an advanced microscale bioreactor that mimics the physical characteristics of classical bioreactors at microscale (10-15ml) using disposable reactor cartridges.
The system will enable rapid evaluation of multiple bioreactor cultures at microscale to select improved cell lines faster with savings on materials and labour.
The system is being designed in collaboration with a number of independent partners including: developers of therapeutic antibodies, biologic contract manufacturing organisations and an academic bioprocess engineering department.
The first-generation AMBR workstation automates the operation of 24 low-cost, disposable plastic bioreactors with a 10-15ml working volume, providing individual closed-loop control of dissolved O2 and pH and a supply of CO2, N2 and O2.
The bioreactors are arranged as two sets of 12, each supplied with independent stirring and temperature control.
The system automates culture set-up and inoculation, the addition of alkalis and feeds, as well as media sampling during the run for cell count and other analysis, thus reducing the number of manual processing steps and the possibility of cross contamination.
As AMBR uses many disposable components, the need for cleaning and sterilising is reduced.
