Bioprocess control system
Bioprocess control system for cell culture automation in rocking bioreactors
Frequently asked questions
Automated cell culture options
Cell culture vessels come in wide range of layouts to suit specific uses and cell types. Manual options for small-volume culture in research include plastic plates and flasks. However, bioreactors are the most common vessels for cell culture in biomanufacturing. Bioreactors provide a controlled environment that mimics the cell's natural environment to allow optimal growth and proliferation. Since they enhance efficiency, bioreactors support reproducible production of biologics. Bioreactors are designed for growth of animal cells that require oxygen, such as mammalian and insect cells. Fermenters also provide a controlled environment, but they support culture of microorganisms like fungi, yeast, and bacteria.
Categories include stirred-tank bioreactors, rocking motion bioreactors, and fixed-bed bioreactors. Stainless steel options are meant to be used multiple times, with cleaning and sanitization between batches. Single-use bioreactors are connected and run as functionally closed systems, to minimize contamination of growth media by microorganisms or cells from previous bioreactor runs.
Cell culture conditions
Different cells require different conditions for peak proliferation. Common requirements for the cultivation of most cell types in bioprocessing are:
- Growth or culture media to supply essential nutrients
- Gases like carbon dioxide and oxygen
- A controlled physico-chemical environment with regulated pH, temperature, and osmotic pressure. A bioprocess control system serves this function.
- Attachment substrate or microcarriers for adherent cells
Biomanufacturing process control for cell culture
In the biomanufacturing industry, mammalian and insect cell cultures are used to produce various biologics. These cell-based production processes require close monitoring and precise control to ensure the required product quality and reproducible results from batch to batch. A bioprocess control system provides this control.
About Cytiva’s UNICORN™ system control software
UNICORN™ software is bioprocess control system that provides built-in knowledge to plan and control runs, as well as analyze results. This versatile software controls Cytiva’s rocking bioreactor systems. But it can also control Cytiva’s chromatography and filtration systems.
UNICORN™ software has been continually updated with input from users, ensuring that it is easy to learn and use. It includes a graphical user interface to create or modify methods. This bioprocess control system software lets you perform and monitor each bioreactor run in real time. Furthermore, it supports data analysis and report generation. Last, it includes an administration module to set up user access and view logs. UNICORN™ 7 software makes sure data is secure through robust database handling.