Bioreactor for growing cell or tissue cultures
The invention relates to a bioreactor comprising a chamber for containing cells or tissue cultures within a culture medium. The bioreactor also comprises a detector capable of detecting a change in one or more metabolites associated with growth of the cell or tissue cultures within the chamber and a chamber drive capable of rotating the chamber at a first speed about a first axis and a second speed about a second axis, the second axis being disposed at an angle relative to the first axis. In use, the magnitude of the first speed and the second speed are independently variable of each other.
1. A bioreactor comprising:
a chamber for containing cells or tissue cultures within a culture medium;
a detector capable of detecting a change in one or more metabolites associated with growth of the cell or tissue cultures within the chamber;
a chamber drive capable of rotating the chamber at a first speed about a first axis and a second speed about a second axis, the second axis being disposed at an angle relative to the first axis, wherein in use, the magnitude of the first speed and the second speed are independently variable of each other; and
an adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting the angle between the second axis and the first axis.
2. A bioreactor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said one or more metabolites is selected from the group consisting of: dissolved oxygen, dissolved carbon dioxide, glucose, lactate, glutamine, amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates, pyruvate, soluble proteins, cytokines and free radicals.
3. A bioreactor as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a sensor capable of detecting at least one of pH, temperature and forces applied to the chamber as it rotates about the first and second axes.
4. A bioreactor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the angle between the first and second axes is in the range selected from the group consisting of: 60° to 120°; 70° to 110°; 80° to 100°; 85° to 95°; and 88° to 92°.
5. A bioreactor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the chamber drive is capable of rotating the chamber at a third speed about a third axis, the third axis being disposed at a second angle relative to the first axis.
6. A bioreactor as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the magnitude of the third speed is independently variable of the first and second speeds.
7. A bioreactor as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the angle between the first and third axes is in the range selected from the group consisting of: 60° to 120°; 70° to 110°; 80° to 100°; 85° to 95°; and 88° to 92°.
8. A bioreactor as claimed in claim 1 , comprising:
a fluidly sealed inlet passage extending into the chamber for passage of feed material into the chamber; and
a fluidly sealed outlet passage extending into the chamber for passage of feed material out of the chamber.
9. A bioreactor as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a controller for controlling one or more variables selected from the group consisting of: temperature, dissolved oxygen, glucose, pH, lactate, glutamine, amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates, pyruvate and combinations thereof.
10. A bioreactor as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the chamber is substantially spherical or substantially elliptical in shape.
11. A bioreactor as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the chamber drive comprises one or more servo motors capable of rotating the spherical or elliptical shaped chamber about at least one of the first axis, the second axis and the third axis.
12. A bioreactor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in use, the chamber drive is capable of rotating the chamber about an arc of rotation.
13. A bioreactor as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the arc of rotation of the chamber is selected from the group consisting of: 20° to 180°, 30° to 150°, 45° to 120°, and 45° to 90°.
14. A bioreactor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in use, the chamber drive is capable of rotating the chamber continuously about at least one of the first axis and the second axis.
15. A bioreactor as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a compressor in fluid communication with said chamber, wherein in use, said compressor modulates the pressure within the chamber in use.
16. A method for growing cell or tissue cultures in vitro comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a chamber having a cell or tissue culture within a culture medium;
(b) rotating the chamber about a first axis at a first speed;
(c) rotating the chamber about a second axis at a second speed, the second axis being disposed at an angle relative to the first axis, and wherein the magnitude of the first speed and the second speed are independently variable of each other; and
(d) adjusting the angle between the first axis and the second axis.
17. A method as claimed in claim 16 , further comprising the step of:
(e) detecting a change in one or more metabolites associated with growth of the cell or tissue culture within the chamber.
18. A method as claimed in claim 17 , said detecting step (e) comprises the step of:
(e1) detecting said one or more metabolites from the group consisting of: dissolved oxygen, dissolved carbon dioxide, glucose, lactate, glutamine, amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates, pyruvate, soluble proteins, cytokines and free radicals.
19. A method as claimed in claim 16 , further comprising the step of:
(f) maintaining the chamber at a pressure higher than ambient pressure during cell or tissue growth.
20. A method as claimed in claim 16 , further comprising the step of:
(g) maintaining the pressure within chamber selected from the group consisting of: 0 KPa to 3000 KPa, 50 KPa to 1500 KPa, 50 KPa to 1000 KPa, and 50 KPa to 500 KPa.
21. A method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein said rotating step (c) further comprises the step of:
(c1) rotating the chamber about an arc of rotation selected from the group consisting of: 20° to 180°, 30° to 150°, 45° to 120°, and 45° to 90°.
22. A method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein said rotating step (c) further comprises the step of:
(c2) rotating the chamber continuously about at least one of the first axis and the second axis.
23. A bioreactor comprising:
a substantially spherical or substantially elliptical shaped chamber capable of containing cell or tissue culture within a culture medium;
a chamber support to support the chamber and comprising rollers to allow the chamber to rotate about at least a first axis and a second axis, the second axis being disposed at an angle relative to the first axis;
a chamber drive capable of rotating the chamber at a first speed about the first axis and a second speed about the second axis, wherein in use, the magnitude of the first speed and the second speed are independently variable of each other; and
an adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting the angle between the second axis and first axis.
24. A bioreactor as claimed in claim 23 , wherein the chamber drive is capable of rotating the chamber at a third speed about a third axis, the third axis being disposed at a second angle relative to the first axis, and wherein in use, the magnitude of the third speed is independently variable of the first and second speeds.
25. The bioreactor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is capable of varying the position of the chamber with respect to one of said axis.