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International Journal of Molecular... Jul 2023An organoid is a 3D organization of cells that can recapitulate some of the structure and function of native tissue. Recent work has seen organoids gain prominence as a... (Review)
Review
An organoid is a 3D organization of cells that can recapitulate some of the structure and function of native tissue. Recent work has seen organoids gain prominence as a valuable model for studying tissue development, drug discovery, and potential clinical applications. The requirements for the successful culture of organoids in vitro differ significantly from those of traditional monolayer cell cultures. The generation and maturation of high-fidelity organoids entails developing and optimizing environmental conditions to provide the optimal cues for growth and 3D maturation, such as oxygenation, mechanical and fluidic activation, nutrition gradients, etc. To this end, we discuss the four main categories of bioreactors used for organoid culture: stirred bioreactors (SBR), microfluidic bioreactors (MFB), rotating wall vessels (RWV), and electrically stimulating (ES) bioreactors. We aim to lay out the state-of-the-art of both commercial and in-house developed bioreactor systems, their benefits to the culture of organoids derived from various cells and tissues, and the limitations of bioreactor technology, including sterilization, accessibility, and suitability and ease of use for long-term culture. Finally, we discuss future directions for improvements to existing bioreactor technology and how they may be used to enhance organoid culture for specific applications.
Topics: Cell Culture Techniques; Organoids; Bioreactors
PubMed: 37511186
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411427 -
Biotechnology and Bioengineering May 2023Advanced control strategies are well established in chemical, pharmaceutical, and food processing industries. Over the past decade, the application of these strategies... (Review)
Review
Advanced control strategies are well established in chemical, pharmaceutical, and food processing industries. Over the past decade, the application of these strategies is being explored for control of bioreactors for manufacturing of biotherapeutics. Most of the industrial bioreactor control strategies apply classical control techniques, with the control system designed for the facility at hand. However, with the recent progress in sensors, machinery, and industrial internet of things, and advancements in deeper understanding of the biological processes, coupled with the requirement of flexible production, the need to develop a robust and advanced process control system that can ease process intensification has emerged. This has further fuelled the development of advanced monitoring approaches, modeling techniques, process analytical technologies, and soft sensors. It is seen that proper application of these concepts can significantly improve bioreactor process performance, productivity, and reproducibility. This review is on the recent advancements in bioreactor control and its related aspects along with the associated challenges. This study also offers an insight into the future prospects for development of control strategies that can be designed for industrial-scale production of biotherapeutic products.
Topics: Reproducibility of Results; Bioreactors
PubMed: 36760086
DOI: 10.1002/bit.28346 -
The Science of the Total Environment Jun 2021Riverine ecosystems can be conceptualized as 'bioreactors' (the riverine bioreactor) which retain and decompose a wide range of organic substrates. The metabolic... (Review)
Review
Riverine ecosystems can be conceptualized as 'bioreactors' (the riverine bioreactor) which retain and decompose a wide range of organic substrates. The metabolic performance of the riverine bioreactor is linked to their community structure, the efficiency of energy transfer along food chains, and complex interactions among biotic and abiotic environmental factors. However, our understanding of the mechanistic functioning and capacity of the riverine bioreactor remains limited. We review the state of knowledge and outline major gaps in the understanding of biotic drivers of organic matter decomposition processes that occur in riverine ecosystems, across habitats, temporal dimensions, and latitudes influenced by climate change. We propose a novel, integrative analytical perspective to assess and predict decomposition processes in riverine ecosystems. We then use this model to analyse data to demonstrate that the size-spectra of a community can be used to predict decomposition rates by analysing an illustrative dataset. This modelling methodology allows comparison of the riverine bioreactor's performance across habitats and at a global scale. Our integrative analytical approach can be applied to advance understanding of the functioning and efficiency of the riverine bioreactor as hotspots of metabolic activity. Application of insights gained from such analyses could inform the development of strategies that promote the functioning of the riverine bioreactor across global ecosystems.
Topics: Bioreactors; Climate Change; Ecosystem; Food Chain
PubMed: 33581537
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145494 -
Current Opinion in Biotechnology Apr 2020Downstream processing aims at recovering the target product at the required specifications from the bioreactor effluent. Research and development in this field relies on... (Review)
Review
Downstream processing aims at recovering the target product at the required specifications from the bioreactor effluent. Research and development in this field relies on experimental and mathematical tools at the levels of chemical components, unit operations and processes. Recently, advances have been made in addressing the broth mixture complexity early on, in incorporating high-throughput experimentation for data generation and mechanistic understanding of the separation processes, in improving the materials and scalability of specific unit operations, as well as establishing the potential of process integration concepts. Further developments are expected considering the variety of (non-sugar) feedstocks currently under research, the need to transition to renewable energy sources, and the opportunities for improved scale-up through initiatives as Big Data and digital manufacturing.
Topics: Bioreactors
PubMed: 31841968
DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2019.11.012 -
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry Sep 2012Biotechnological processes are crucial to the development of any economy striving to ensure a relevant position in future markets. The cultivation of microorganisms in... (Review)
Review
Biotechnological processes are crucial to the development of any economy striving to ensure a relevant position in future markets. The cultivation of microorganisms in bioreactors is one of the most important unit operations of biotechnological processes, and real-time monitoring of bioreactors is essential for effective bioprocess control. In this review, published material on the potential application of different spectroscopic techniques for bioreactor monitoring is critically discussed, with particular emphasis on optical fiber technology, reported for in situ bioprocess monitoring. Application examples are presented by spectroscopy type, specifically focusing on ultraviolet-visible, near-infrared, mid-infrared, Raman, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The spectra acquisition devices available and the major advantages and disadvantages of each spectroscopy are discussed. The type of information contained in the spectra and the available chemometric methods for extracting that information are also addressed, including wavelength selection, spectra pre-processing, principal component analysis, and partial least-squares. Sample handling techniques (flow and sequential injection analysis) that include transport to spectroscopic sensors for ex-situ on-line monitoring are not covered in this review.
Topics: Bacteria; Bioreactors; Biotechnology; Spectrum Analysis
PubMed: 22644146
DOI: 10.1007/s00216-012-6073-9 -
Bioresource Technology Sep 2011Dark fermentative H2 production (DFHP) has received increasing attention in recent years due to its high H2 production rate (HPR) as well as the versatility of the... (Review)
Review
Dark fermentative H2 production (DFHP) has received increasing attention in recent years due to its high H2 production rate (HPR) as well as the versatility of the substrates used in the process. For most studies in this field, batch reactors have been applied due to their simple operation and efficient control; however, continuous DFHP operation is necessary from economical and practical points of view. Continuous systems can be classified into two categories, suspended and immobilized bioreactors, according to the life forms of H2 producing bacteria (HPB) used in the reactor. This paper reviews operational parameters for bioreactor design including pH, temperature, hydraulic retention time (HRT), and H2 partial pressure. Also, in this review, various bioreactor configurations and performance parameters including H2 yield (HY), HPR, and specific H2 production rate (SHPR) are evaluated and presented.
Topics: Bioreactors; Biotechnology; Darkness; Equipment Design; Fermentation; Hydrogen
PubMed: 21489782
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.03.056 -
Biotechnology and Bioengineering Mar 2022Conventional bioreactors are typically developed for the production of planktonic bacteria or submerged biofilms. In contrast, reactors for the continuous production of...
Conventional bioreactors are typically developed for the production of planktonic bacteria or submerged biofilms. In contrast, reactors for the continuous production of biofilms at the solid-air interface are scarce, and they require specific conditions since the bacteria need to attach firmly to the surface and require a permanent supply of moisture and nutrients from below. Recently, research from the field of civil engineering has pinpointed an increased need for the production of terrestrial biofilms: several variants of Bacillus subtilis biofilms have been shown to be useful additives to mortar that increase the water repellency, and, thus, the lifetime of the cementitious material. The bioreactor introduced here allows for the continuous production of such bacterial biofilms at the solid-air interface, and they have virtually identical properties as biofilms cultivated via classical microbiological techniques. This is made possible by equipping a rotating cylinder with a porous membrane that acts as a solid growth substrate the bacterial biomass can form on. In this configuration, nutrient supply is enabled via diffusive transport of a suitable growth medium from the core volume of the cylindrical reactor to the membrane surface. In addition to cultivating bacterial biofilms, the versatile and adaptable set up introduced here also enables the growth of other microbial organisms including the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the fungus Penicillium chrysogenum.
Topics: Bacteria; Biofilms; Biomass; Bioreactors; Fungi
PubMed: 34958130
DOI: 10.1002/bit.28023 -
Nature Communications Jun 2022Small-scale, low-cost bioreactors provide exquisite control of environmental parameters of microbial cultures over long durations. Their use is gaining popularity in...
Small-scale, low-cost bioreactors provide exquisite control of environmental parameters of microbial cultures over long durations. Their use is gaining popularity in quantitative systems and synthetic biology. However, existing setups are limited in their measurement capabilities. Here, we present ReacSight, a strategy to enhance bioreactor arrays for automated measurements and reactive experiment control. ReacSight leverages low-cost pipetting robots for sample collection, handling and loading, and provides a flexible instrument control architecture. We showcase ReacSight capabilities on three applications in yeast. First, we demonstrate real-time optogenetic control of gene expression. Second, we explore the impact of nutrient scarcity on fitness and cellular stress using competition assays. Third, we perform dynamic control of the composition of a two-strain consortium. We combine custom or chi.bio reactors with automated cytometry. To further illustrate ReacSight's genericity, we use it to enhance plate-readers with pipetting capabilities and perform repeated antibiotic treatments on a bacterial clinical isolate.
Topics: Bioreactors; Synthetic Biology
PubMed: 35690608
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31033-9 -
Biotechnology Progress Sep 2020Anaerobic cultivation methods of bacteria are indispensable in microbiology. One methodology is to cultivate the microbes in anaerobic enclosure with oxygen-adosrbing...
Anaerobic cultivation methods of bacteria are indispensable in microbiology. One methodology is to cultivate the microbes in anaerobic enclosure with oxygen-adosrbing chemicals. Here, we report an electronic extension of such strategy for facultative anaerobic bacteria. The technique is based a bioreactor with entire operation including turbidity measurement, fluidic mixing, and gas delivery in an anaerobic enclosure. Wireless data transmission is employed and the anaerobic condition is achieved with gas pack. Although the technique is not meant to completely replace the anaerobic chamber for strict anaerobic bacteria, it provides a convenient way to bypass the cumbersome operation in anaerobic chamber for facultative anaerobic bacteria. Such a cultivation strategy is demonstrated with Escherichia coli with different carbon sources and hydrogen as energy source.
Topics: Bacteria, Anaerobic; Bioreactors; Equipment Design; Hydrogen; Metabolic Engineering
PubMed: 32329232
DOI: 10.1002/btpr.3009 -
Waste Management (New York, N.Y.) 2007Five landfills were analyzed to provide a perspective of current practice and technical issues that differentiate bioreactor and recirculation landfills in North America... (Review)
Review
Five landfills were analyzed to provide a perspective of current practice and technical issues that differentiate bioreactor and recirculation landfills in North America from conventional landfills. The bioreactor and recirculation landfills were found to function in much the same manner as conventional landfills, with designs similar to established standards for waste containment facilities. Leachate generation rates, leachate depths and temperatures, and liner temperatures were similar for landfills operated in a bioreactor/recirculation or conventional mode. Gas production data indicate accelerated waste decomposition from leachate recirculation at one landfill. Ambiguities in gas production data precluded a definitive conclusion that leachate recirculation accelerated waste decomposition at the four other landfills. Analysis of leachate quality data showed that bioreactor and recirculation landfills generally produce stronger leachate than conventional landfills during the first two to three years of recirculation. Thereafter, leachate from conventional and bioreactor landfills is similar, at least in terms of conventional indicator variables (BOD, COD, pH). While the BOD and COD decreased, the pH remained around neutral and ammonia concentrations remained elevated. Settlement data collected from two of the landfills indicate that settlements are larger and occur much faster in landfills operated as bioreactors or with leachate recirculation. The analysis also indicated that more detailed data collection over longer time periods is needed to draw definitive conclusions regarding the effects of bioreactor and recirculation operations. For each of the sites in this study, some of the analyses were limited by sparseness or ambiguity in the data sets.
Topics: Bioreactors; Conservation of Natural Resources; United States; Waste Management
PubMed: 16766174
DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2006.04.005