A revolutionary large-scale smart bioreactor with fully integrated wireless multivariate sensors and electronics has been developed to address the challenges faced in manufacturing stem cells reproducibly and cost-effectively. The traditional single-use cell-bag bioreactors with rigid and single-point sensors have limitations in accuracy and scalability for high-quality cell manufacturing. In response to this, a scalable system has been introduced, which includes a low-profile, label-free thin-film sensor array embedded with electronics integrated with a flexible cell bag for real-time wireless culture monitoring.
The smart bioreactor system enables multi-spatial sensing for continuous assessment of culture properties such as pH, dissolved oxygen, glucose, and temperature. This allows for real-time feedback for up to 30 days, ensuring accurate monitoring of time-dynamic and spatial variations of stem cells and myoblast cells. The system is designed to accommodate adjustable carriers from a plastic dish to a 2-liter cell bag, making it versatile for various applications in large-scale, lower-cost, reproducible, and high-quality engineered cell manufacturing for clinical use.
The emergence of personalized medicine, powered by the potential of stem cells, is transforming treatment strategies for individuals grappling with previously untreatable neurodegenerative and genetic disorders. Stem cells, particularly primary mesenchymal stem cells, have shown promise as therapeutic tools due to their regenerative capabilities and pluripotency. However, the lack of a reliable manufacturing platform that can consistently produce clinical-grade stem cells while maintaining their essential characteristics has been a significant hurdle.
Continuous monitoring of cell culture has been identified as a critical factor in ensuring the quality and reproducibility of stem cell manufacturing. The monitoring of parameters such as pH, temperature, and oxygen levels is crucial for maintaining optimal cell physiology and growth. Existing monitoring techniques have limitations in providing comprehensive and real-time data, especially in scaled-up production scenarios.
To address these challenges, a large-scale smart bioreactor system has been developed with integrated wireless multivariate sensors and electronics for long-term in situ monitoring of stem cell culture. The system leverages advanced sensor technology to provide accurate and reliable measurements of key culture parameters while maintaining the flexibility and integrity of the cell bag. This innovative solution enables continuous monitoring of cell culture conditions in real-time, improving the reproducibility and quality of stem cell manufacturing processes.
Source: https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/sciadv.adk6714
