3.2 Advanced Fluid Flow Characterization of Small-Scale
Spinner Flasks: A Case Study
In recent years, various publications in the scientific literature have demonstrated the
applicability of stirred SU bioreactors for the in vitro expansion of hMSCs. However, the in vitro expansion processes that provide clinically relevant cell numbers
were developed with cell culture media containing 10–20% FBS. The FBS made the
Table 5 Overview of studies dealing with CFD in order to characterize bioreactor systems for the
expansion of hMSCs
Simulation
type
Bioreactor system
Title
Ref.
Single-phase
(RANS)
ambr 15
“The physical characterisation of a microscale
parallel bioreactor platform with an industrial
CHO cell line expressing an IgG4” and “Agitation conditions for the culture and detachment of hMSCs from microcarriers in multiple
bioreactor platforms”
[71, 84]
125 mL Corning
spinner
“Fluid flow and cell proliferation of mesenchymal adipose-derived stem cells in smallscale, stirred, single-use bioreactors”
[50]
125 mL Corning
spinner
“Characterisation of stresses on microcarriers
in stirred bioreactor”
[77]
UniVessel SU 2L
and BIOSTAT STR
50L
“Scale-up of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell production in stirred singleuse bioreactors under low-serum conditions”
[62]
Single-phase
(LES)
250 mL mini
bioreactor
“Large-Eddy Simulations of microcarrier
exposure to potentially damaging eddies
inside mini-bioreactors”
[85]
Multi-phase
(Euler-Euler)
125 mL Corning
spinner
“Fluid flow and cell proliferation of mesenchymal adipose-derived stem cells in smallscale, stirred, single-use bioreactors”
[50]
UniVessel SU 2L
“Modification and qualification of a stirred
single-use bioreactor for the improved expansion of human mesenchymal stem cells at
benchtop scale”
[74]
1.12 L HSB
bioreactor
“Revisiting the determination of hydromechanical stresses encountered by microcarriers
in stem cell culture bioreactors”
[81]
Multi-phase
(EulerLagrange)
125/500 mL
Corning spinner
“Growth behavior of human adipose tissuederived stromal/stem cells at small scale:
Numerical and experimental investigations”
[12]
125 mL Corning
spinner
“Fluid flow and stresses on microcarriers in
spinner flask bioreactors”
[82]
20L RB bioreactor
“Euler–Lagrange approach to model heterogeneities in stirred tank bioreactors – comparison to experimental flow characterization and
particle tracking”
[83]
202
V. Jossen et al.
Spinner Flasks: A Case Study
In recent years, various publications in the scientific literature have demonstrated the
applicability of stirred SU bioreactors for the in vitro expansion of hMSCs. However, the in vitro expansion processes that provide clinically relevant cell numbers
were developed with cell culture media containing 10–20% FBS. The FBS made the
Table 5 Overview of studies dealing with CFD in order to characterize bioreactor systems for the
expansion of hMSCs
Simulation
type
Bioreactor system
Title
Ref.
Single-phase
(RANS)
ambr 15
“The physical characterisation of a microscale
parallel bioreactor platform with an industrial
CHO cell line expressing an IgG4” and “Agitation conditions for the culture and detachment of hMSCs from microcarriers in multiple
bioreactor platforms”
[71, 84]
125 mL Corning
spinner
“Fluid flow and cell proliferation of mesenchymal adipose-derived stem cells in smallscale, stirred, single-use bioreactors”
[50]
125 mL Corning
spinner
“Characterisation of stresses on microcarriers
in stirred bioreactor”
[77]
UniVessel SU 2L
and BIOSTAT STR
50L
“Scale-up of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell production in stirred singleuse bioreactors under low-serum conditions”
[62]
Single-phase
(LES)
250 mL mini
bioreactor
“Large-Eddy Simulations of microcarrier
exposure to potentially damaging eddies
inside mini-bioreactors”
[85]
Multi-phase
(Euler-Euler)
125 mL Corning
spinner
“Fluid flow and cell proliferation of mesenchymal adipose-derived stem cells in smallscale, stirred, single-use bioreactors”
[50]
UniVessel SU 2L
“Modification and qualification of a stirred
single-use bioreactor for the improved expansion of human mesenchymal stem cells at
benchtop scale”
[74]
1.12 L HSB
bioreactor
“Revisiting the determination of hydromechanical stresses encountered by microcarriers
in stem cell culture bioreactors”
[81]
Multi-phase
(EulerLagrange)
125/500 mL
Corning spinner
“Growth behavior of human adipose tissuederived stromal/stem cells at small scale:
Numerical and experimental investigations”
[12]
125 mL Corning
spinner
“Fluid flow and stresses on microcarriers in
spinner flask bioreactors”
[82]
20L RB bioreactor
“Euler–Lagrange approach to model heterogeneities in stirred tank bioreactors – comparison to experimental flow characterization and
particle tracking”
[83]
202
V. Jossen et al.