A Simplified implementation of the O.U.R. stationary liquid mass balance estimation method for On-line monitoring in Animal cell production processes

Many efforts have been invested in the development of culture strategies for animal cell culture process. Several strategies have been studied: batch, fed-batch and perfusion cultures [1]. For implementation of those strategies, a monitoring system for automated, controlled and optimised processes based on simple measurement could be of great interest. Oxygen is a key substrate in animal cell metabolism and its consumption is thus a parameter of great interest for bioprocess monitoring and control. The application of the OUR (Oxygen uptake rate) is investigate here. The main advantages of OUR is that correlates well with the physiological state of cells and also for the prediction of viable cell concentration [2-4]. Different methods for the oxygen uptake rate (OUR) determination in animal cell cultivation have been developed: Dynamic estimation in the liquid phase, the global mass balance in the gas phase, and the Stationary liquid mass balance. Dynamic estimation has a considerable disadvantage because of disturbances suffered by the growing cells because of the necessary variations of the DO concentration. Gas phase balancing has several advantages; knowledge of the kL·a value is not necessary, and yields a higher density of accurate data. However, it has not historically been widely used due to the need for complex and expensive instrumentation like mass spectrometers and extremely accurate DO control systems. The Stationary liquid mass balance method offers minimum cell stress and greatest imation accuracy, but still needs for a significant investment in mass flow controllers as well as some additional instrumentation to determine the oxygen’s molar fraction in the gas phase.