Sealed Bioreactor Containers for Hairy Root Biomass Growth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial-scale production of high-value phytochemicals is hindered by the design and scale-up of bioreactors that fail to promote stable growth and production of biomass and phytochemicals due to microbial contamination, as existing bioreactors have numerous connections that create potential sources for contamination.
Innovation Solution
The use of bioreactor containers with a mesh scaffolding and a controlled environment, including a motion mechanism to stimulate ageotropic growth, and a system that allows for the isolation of contaminated bioreactors without affecting others, using a bioreactor container system with separate tubing members for media exchange and elicitor addition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional bioreactors with multiple connections and probes are used to facilitate gas exchange, media exchange, and monitoring, then the functionality and versatility of the bioreactor is improved, but the risk of microbial contamination increases due to numerous potential entry points for contaminants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for multiple external connections and probes by integrating all necessary functions into a single sealed container system. The bioreactor container is designed with internal components that eliminate external access points, thereby extracting the contamination risk while preserving functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a sealed container as an intermediary barrier between the external environment and the bioreactor contents. This sealed container acts as a mediator that allows gas and media exchange while preventing microbial contamination from entering the system.
2Measurement precision
If bioreactors are designed with elaborate connections and probes for monitoring and control, then the measurement precision and control capability are improved, but the device complexity increases creating more potential sources of contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple monitoring and control functions into integrated internal components within the sealed container. Instead of separate external probes and connections, the system merges these functions into unified internal structures that reduce complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs internal components that perform multiple functions simultaneously - for example, a single structure that facilitates both gas exchange and media distribution, or that provides both structural support and contamination barrier functions. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed.
3Ease of operation
If conventional bioreactor designs are used without isolation capabilities, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the loss of time occurs when contamination affects entire batches, requiring complete batch disposal and system re sterilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the bioreactor system into multiple independent sealed container units, each capable of operating autonomously. This segmentation allows individual containers to be isolated from contamination events affecting other containers, enabling selective disposal or remediation of only contaminated units rather than entire batches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables selective discarding of only contaminated container units while preserving and continuing operation of non-contaminated units. This approach recovers time and resources by avoiding complete batch disposal and allowing continuous operation of healthy cultures.
Data Source
AI summary
Bioreactors and methods of stimulating continuous growth of hairy root biomass in such bioreactors are provided.