Abstract: Disposable bioreactor for culturing cells in a nutrient medium, consisting of a reagent container which is sealable with a lid and which is capable of being subjected to a shaking process in a shaking device, where the reagent container is equipped with at least one web adjacent to the internal wall of the container, the web being arranged running vertically from the bottom upward, preferably in the shape of a helix.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for detecting a sample in a longitudinal sample container (10), comprising a sample container holder (30) for holding the sample container in a housing. Said sample container holder comprises a side viewing window in the region of at least one longitudinal side of the sample container, and a front viewing window (35) in the region at least one front side of the sample container. Said device also comprises a first illumination arrangement for illuminating the sample container through the front viewing window, a second illumination arrangement for illuminating the sample container through the side viewing window, and an imaging photodetector for detecting a first image of the sample illuminated by means of the first illumination arrangement, and a second image of the sample illuminated by means of the second illumination arrangement. Said detection takes place through the side viewing window.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the viability of cells in cell cultures, said method comprising the steps of: coloring the sample with a dye which can penetrate into individual cells depending on the viability of the latter, determining the proportions of cells which are colored to differing extents. The invention is distinguished by virtue of the fact that a cell suspension of the colored cells is centrifuged as a sample in a sample vessel (10) until the solid content present in the sample has settled as a compressed cell cake (13), and, in order to determine the proportions, the volumes of differently colored sections (131, 132, 133) of the compressed cell cake (13) are determined as a measure of the proportions of cells of different viability.

Abstract: Disposable bioreactor for culturing cells in a nutrient medium, consisting of a reagent container which is sealable with a lid and which is capable of being subjected to a shaking process in a shaking device, where the reagent container is equipped with at least one web adjacent to the internal wall of the container, the web being arranged running vertically from the bottom upward, preferably in the shape of a helix.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the viability of cells in cell cultures, said method comprising the steps of: colouring the sample with a dye which can penetrate into individual cells depending on the viability of the latter, determining the proportions of cells which are coloured to differing extents. The invention is distinguished by virtue of the fact that a cell suspension of the coloured cells is centrifuged as a sample in a sample vessel (10) until the solid content present in the sample has settled as a compressed cell cake (13), and, in order to determine the proportions, the volumes of differently coloured sections (131, 132, 133) of the compressed cell cake (13) are determined as a measure of the proportions of cells of different viability.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method for culturing cells as well as a novel method for producing a recombinant protein by culturing cells at large scale (up to 1,500 L nominal volume and 750 L working volume), whereby an inflated bag provides a sterile, disposable cultivation chamber. The inflated bag is partially filled with liquid cultivation media and cells, and placed into a containment vessel. The containment vessel is positioned onto an orbitally shaken platform. The orbital shaking moves the containment vessel and thus the bag and induces thereby motion to the liquid contained therein (“shake mixing”). This motion (caused by orbital shaking) induces a dynamic force field that ensures cell suspension, bulk mixing, and oxygen transfer from the liquid surface to the respiring cells without damaging shear or foam generation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for detecting a sample in a longitudinal sample container (10), comprising a sample container holder (30) for holding the sample container in a housing. Said sample container holder comprises a side viewing window in the region of at least one longitudinal side of the sample container, and a front viewing window (35) in the region at least one front side of the sample container. Said device also comprises a first illumination arrangement for illuminating the sample container through the front viewing window, a second illumination arrangement for illuminating the sample container through the side viewing window, and an imaging photodetector for detecting a first image of the sample illuminated by means of the first illumination arrangement, and a second image of the sample illuminated by means of the second illumination arrangement. Said detection takes place through the side viewing window.

Abstract: Culturing cells for the commercial production of proteins for diagnosis and therapy is a costly and time consuming process. The equipment required is expensive, and production cost are high. In order to provide commercially viable processes it is desirable to use cell lines which produce large quantities of product with each production run. However, most cells do not produce large quantities of desired product per se either because they do not produce a large quantity of product per unit of time (specific productivity) or because they do not survive long enough in the culture medium (time). Here, we identified that addition of a valproic acid compound to the culture medium increases overall (batch) yield and titer. More importantly, compared to the widely used sodium butyrate, batch yields using a valproic acid compound as a medium additive are significantly higher.