Abstract: A method of making a vaccine using animal derived component free (ADCF) cell culture technology, including the steps of attaching ADCF-adapted cells to a microcarrier including an attachment mechanism for attaching filipodia of the cells, the microcarrier being in a culture, growing the cells in ADCF maintenance media, infecting the cells with vaccine media, producing virus within the cells, and harvesting the virus. A vaccine produced by the above method in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A vaccine production structure of ADCF-adapted cells removably attached to microcarrier beads including an attachment mechanism for attaching filipodia of the cells.

Abstract: A method of making a vaccine using animal derived component free (ADCF) cell culture technology, including the steps of attaching ADCF-adapted cells to a microcarrier including an attachment mechanism for attaching filipodia of the cells, the microcarrier being in a culture, growing the cells in ADCF maintenance media, infecting the cells with vaccine media, producing virus within the cells, and harvesting the virus. A vaccine produced by the above method in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A vaccine production structure of ADCF-adapted cells removably attached to microcarrier beads including an attachment mechanism for attaching filipodia of the cells.

Abstract: A method of making a vaccine using animal derived component free (ADCF) cell culture technology, including the steps of attaching ADCF-adapted cells to a microcarrier including an attachment mechanism for attaching filipodia of the cells, the microcarrier being in a culture, growing the cells in ADCF maintenance media, infecting the cells with vaccine media, producing virus within the cells, and harvesting the virus. A vaccine produced by the above method in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A vaccine production structure of ADCF-adapted cells removably attached to microcarrier beads including an attachment mechanism for attaching filipodia of the cells.

Abstract: There is provided a method of making microcarrier beads having the steps of forming a bead made of a lightly crosslinked styrene copolymer core and also having functional groups on the surface of the bead and washing the microcarrier beads with basic and acidic solutions to make the beads compatible for cell culture. Also provided is a microcarrier bead made of a styrene copolymer core with a tri-methylamine exterior which has been washed in basic and acidic solutions to make the beads compatible for cell culture. The method of using microcarrier beads for increased growth of anchorage dependent cells having the steps of washing the microcarrier bead with basic and acidic solutions and mixing the microcarrier bead with an anchorage dependent cell containing culture medium is also provided.

Abstract: A microcarrier bead system for culturing anchorage-dependent cells is formed of a polystyrene core with a coating of collagen fixed thereover. In certain embodiments, the coating is a protein, such as laminin or fibronectin. The microcarrier bead is of low density, illustratively 1.02 g/cc, and therefore requires less agitation of the nutrient media to maintain suspension. This reduced stirring causes lower shear forces to impinge upon the cells, thereby improving the attachment and proliferation of the cells being cultured. The microcarrier bead of the present invention exhibits surprising advantages with respect to cell attachment and harvesting over beads formed entirely of collagen, or of DEAE-dextran coated with collagen. During harvesting, contamination of the product resulting from dissolved collagen, particularly when proteolytic enzymes are used, is minimized. Additionally, adsorption of toxins and product by the subject microcarrier beads is minimized.