Sartorius launches next-gen bioreactor range and pushes volume up to 2,000L

01-May-2017 - Last updated on 02-May-2017 at 13:35 GMT

Taken at last week's Bioprocessing International (BPI) European Summit

Satorius Stedim Biotech (SSB) has claimed its new bioreactors allowing in-process cell concentration measurement are an industry first.

The Biostat STR range offers improved heating and cooling technologies, is more user-friendly, and is the only line on the market to measure cell-concentration mid-process, SSB’s Director of Product Management for Fermentation Technologies, Dr. Thorsten Adams, told BioPharma-Reporter.

The upgraded series is integrated with Flexsafe STR single-use bags, and features enhanced hardware, software and working volumes.

The range replaces SSB’s first generation of Biostat STR bioreactors. The new generation consists of five systems in different sizes. It has a working volume of up to 2,000 L, an increase on the first generation’s 1,000 L capacity.

These upgrades allow greater flexibility in bioprocess control and data acquisition, enabling integrated control by BioPAT MFCS software or distributed control systems (DCS) such as Emerson DeltaV and Siemens SIMATIC PCS7.

Direct linear scalability

Adams claimed that scale-downs, linear scale-ups and process transfers can be completed in weeks, compared with existing systems for which additional processes necessary to meet parameter requirements can take months.

“Direct linear scalability is crucial for ensuring the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of bioprocess development campaigns. Compared with conventional stainless steel vessels, our next generation Biostat STR bioreactors in combination with the ambr 250 technology will help reduce process development timelines significantly,” said Adams.

Improved stainless steel bag holders have also been incorporated, for user-friendly installation of the FlexSafe STR single-use bag.

Single-use bags

The FlexSafe STR single-used bags, produced in SSB's France-based facility, have also been redesigned.

The bags have single-use sensor solutions manufactured from a proprietary, robust multilayer S80 polyethylene film. The film, which is optimized for cell growth, is the most robust on the market, said Adams.

The bioreactors’ self-contained design prevents cross-contamination, which reduces set-up time, validation, clean-in-place procedures and sterilize-in-place operations.

SSB did not disclose prices.

SSB is targeting major pharmaceutical companies across the US, Europe and Asia.