Sheet Carrier Cell Culture Module for Scalable Bioreactor Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cell culture technologies face challenges with low cell recovery rates and poor cell quality due to the use of synthetic materials that are difficult to degrade and may induce cell damage, and the need for animal-derived materials that can contain contaminants and require high calcium ion concentrations.
Innovation Solution
A cell culture module with a sheet-shaped carrier member that can switch between a twisted and untwisted state, allowing for enhanced cell recovery by using synthetic materials like polyester and nylon, and a system that includes a movable second fixer to control the state of the carriers, facilitating cell detachment and collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If natural materials derived from animal sources are used as carrier scaffolds, then cytotoxicity is reduced and biocompatibility is improved, but the risk of animal contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from natural animal-derived materials to synthetic materials with controlled degradation properties. The synthetic polymer materials are designed to have specific degradation rates and biocompatibility without animal contamination risks, thus resolving the contradiction between biocompatibility and contamination risk.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If synthetic materials are used as carrier scaffolds, then animal contamination risk is eliminated, but cell recovery becomes difficult due to difficulty in degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the degradation parameter of synthetic materials by selecting specific biodegradable polymers (PLGA, PCL, PGA, PLA) that can be degraded under controlled conditions. These materials maintain synthetic advantages while enabling cell recovery through controlled degradation or enzymatic breakdown, thus resolving the contradiction between eliminating contamination and enabling cell recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable carrier scaffolds made from biodegradable synthetic materials that can be easily discarded after cell harvest. The scaffolds are designed to be used once and then degraded or removed, eliminating the need for complex recovery processes while maintaining synthetic material advantages.
3Ease of operation
If alginate-based products are used as carrier scaffolds, then cell recovery is facilitated through degradation, but high calcium ion concentration is required which may damage cells or induce differentiation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter by selecting synthetic polymers that do not require high calcium ion concentrations for degradation. The chosen materials (PLGA, PCL, PGA, PLA) degrade through hydrolysis or enzymatic action without requiring calcium chelators, thus enabling cell recovery while avoiding cell damage from high calcium concentrations.
4Productivity
If conventional two-dimensional flat plate culture method is used, then current cell mass production is achieved, but scalability to larger production is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional flat plate culture to three-dimensional carrier scaffolds. The three-dimensional structure provides increased surface area and volume for cell growth, enabling scalable cell mass production while maintaining control over cell environment and facilitating easier cell harvest through scaffold degradation or removal.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A cell culture module (100H-100N, 400A), a cell culture system and a cell culture method are provided. The cell culture system includes a cell tank (200), a culture medium module (300) and a cell culture module. The cell tank and the culture medium module respectively communicate with the cell culture module and the cell culture module includes a casing (111), a first fixer (120), a second fixer (130, 130K, 130L) and a sheet-shaped carrier member (14). The casing has a chamber (C10) and at least one inlet/outlet (T12, T14, T16, T18, T21, T23). The inlet/outlet communicates with the chamber. The first fixer is fixed to the casing and located in the chamber. The second fixer is disposed in the chamber and is movable relative to the first fixer. The sheet-shaped carrier member is formed by arranging a plurality of cell culture carriers (140), and two opposite ends of the sheet-shaped carrier member are respectively fixed to the first fixer and the second fixer. The sheet-shaped carrier member is in an open state or a folded state according to a variation in a distance between the first fixer and the second fixer due to a movement of the second fixer.