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Impact of Pluronic® F68 on hollow fiber filter-based perfusion culture performance

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Abstract

High cell density is an important factor in achieving high bioreactor productivity. To meet the oxygen demand with density at >100 × 106 cells/mL, a frit sparger is often used. In this study, the impact of Pluronic® F68 on a perfusion process using a frit sparger was studied. The perfusion process was developed using an alternating tangential flow device with a 0.2 µm PES hollow fiber filter. Pluronic® F68 at 2 g/L was sufficient in preventing cell damage at gas flow rate of ~0.20 vvm from a drilled hole sparger (0.5 mm) but inadequate at ~0.025 vvm from a frit sparger (20 µm). Increase of Pluronic® F68 concentration to 5 g/L prevented cell death at up to ~0.10 vvm from the frit sparger and was able to maintain high cell density at high viability in the range of 60–80 × 106 cells/mL. Such positive effect was demonstrated in both 3- and 200-L bioreactors. Supplementing additional Pluronic® F68 was also effective in restoring cell growth/viability from low viability cultures. Increased Pluronic® F68 concentration had no adverse impact on target antibody, HCP, and Pluronic® F68 transmissions.

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Acknowledgement

We would like to thank Mike Caruso, Jack Cardoso, James Jimenez, Angel Rodriguez, Debbie Lutz, Billy Alcaide, and Cornelia Amoah for media preparation and bioreactor operations, the In-Process Analytics and Purification group for titer analysis, Brandon Yu for assisting PF68 measurement, and John Troisi for HCP measurement. We would also like to thank Nihal Tugcu, David Roush, and Balrina Gupta for their careful review of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Upstream Process Development & Engineering, Biologics Process Development & Clinical Manufacturing, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ, 07033, USA

    Sen Xu, Rubin Jiang & Hao Chen

  2. Biologics & Vaccines Analytical Development, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ, 07033, USA

    Yuetian Chen & Fengqiang Wang

Authors
  1. Sen Xu
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  2. Rubin Jiang
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  5. Hao Chen
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Correspondence to Sen Xu.

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Xu, S., Jiang, R., Chen, Y. et al. Impact of Pluronic® F68 on hollow fiber filter-based perfusion culture performance. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 40, 1317–1326 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-017-1790-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-017-1790-2

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