Portable Bioreactor with Vertical Scaffold Stacks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for mass culture of adherent cells are limited by the need for large facilities and are less efficient in maintaining high cell density compared to suspension cells.
Innovation Solution
A portable bioreactor system that includes a frame part, a cell culture part with multiple scaffolds, a medium adjustment part, a circulation pump, and a gas supply part, allowing for efficient culture of adherent cells in a compact, portable format.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional mass cell culture system is used for adherent cells, then cell culture can be performed, but the facility size becomes very large and portability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The bioreactor system is divided into multiple functional modules: cell culture module with scaffolds, medium adjustment module, circulation pump module, and gas supply module. Each module performs a specific function and can be independently optimized, allowing the overall system to achieve mass culture capability in a compact form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple scaffolds are arranged vertically stacked within a single cell culture chamber, similar to nested dolls. This three-dimensional arrangement allows multiple culture surfaces to occupy a small volume, enabling mass culture of adherent cells without requiring large horizontal space.
2Quantity of substance
If suspension cells are used for mass culture, then high cell density per unit volume can be maintained, but adherent cells cannot proliferate effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from two-dimensional planar culture to three-dimensional vertical culture by stacking multiple scaffolds vertically. This dimensional change increases the total culture surface area within a compact volume, enabling high cell density culture of adherent cells without requiring large horizontal footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The scaffolds are designed with porous structures that allow medium penetration and nutrient diffusion throughout the three-dimensional architecture. This porous design enables adherent cells to attach and proliferate on the scaffold surfaces while maintaining high cell density through efficient medium circulation.
3Productivity
If multiple scaffolds are arranged in cell culture part, then large amount of adherent cells can be cultured simultaneously, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation pump serves multiple functions: it circulates medium through all scaffolds, delivers gas to the medium adjustment part for pH control, and maintains flow through the entire system. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall system despite the presence of multiple scaffolds.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas supply system is integrated with the medium circulation system. The same circulation pump that moves medium through the scaffolds also delivers gas to the medium adjustment part. This merging of functions reduces component count and simplifies system architecture while maintaining high culture throughput.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the simultaneous culture of a large amount of adherent cells through a single process, improving productivity and allowing cell culture to be performed in various locations without spatial limitations.
Implementation Method 1
a gas supply part configured to supply a gas to the medium adjustment part for the medium stored in the medium adjustment part to maintain a constant pH level
Implementation Method 2
a circulation pump installed to be fixed to the frame part to circulate the medium stored in the medium adjustment part
Data Source
AI summary
A portable bioreactor is provided. The portable bioreactor may comprise: a frame unit; a cell culture unit which has one side mounted to the frame unit and in which a plurality of supports for cell culture are arranged, the cell culture unit being provided with an inlet, through which a medium supplied from the outside flows in, and an outlet, through which the medium inside the cell culture unit is discharged to the outside, a medium adjustment unit installed in the frame unit and storing therein a certain amount of medium for the cell culture; a circulation pump installed and fixed to the frame unit to circulate the medium stored in the medium adjustment unit; and a gas supply unit for supplying gas to the medium adjustment unit to maintain the medium stored in the medium adjustment unit at a constant pH.