Expanding cells in a bioreactor
First Claim
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1. A method of growing cells in a cell expansion system, the method comprising:
- circulating fluid, with a pump, through a bioreactor comprising a hollow fiber membrane with a plurality of hollow fibers, wherein the fluid comprises a plurality of cells and the fluid enters the bioreactor through a first inlet and exits the bioreactor through a first outlet;
reducing the rate of circulating fluid by reducing a flow rate of the pump;
maintaining the bioreactor in a first horizontal orientation for a first predetermined period of time to allow at least a first portion of the plurality of cells to settle and attach to a first portion of at least one of the plurality of hollow fibers;
after the first predetermined period of time, rotating, with a rotational device, the bioreactor to a second horizontal orientation that is about 180 degrees from the first horizontal orientation; and
after the rotating, expanding at least the first portion of the plurality of cells attached to the first portion of the at least one of the plurality of hollow fibers while the bioreactor is oriented in the second horizontal orientation by feeding the portion of cells and growing the portion of cells downward in the bioreactor under an influence of gravity toward a portion of the at least one of the plurality of hollow fibers that does not have attached cells.
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Abstract
Described are embodiments for expanding cells in a bioreactor. In one embodiment, methods are provided that distribute cells throughout the bioreactor and attach cells to specific portions of a bioreactor to improve the expansion of the cells in the bioreactor. Embodiments may be implemented on a cell expansion system configured to load, distribute, attach and expand cells.
188 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of growing cells in a cell expansion system, the method comprising:
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circulating fluid, with a pump, through a bioreactor comprising a hollow fiber membrane with a plurality of hollow fibers, wherein the fluid comprises a plurality of cells and the fluid enters the bioreactor through a first inlet and exits the bioreactor through a first outlet; reducing the rate of circulating fluid by reducing a flow rate of the pump; maintaining the bioreactor in a first horizontal orientation for a first predetermined period of time to allow at least a first portion of the plurality of cells to settle and attach to a first portion of at least one of the plurality of hollow fibers; after the first predetermined period of time, rotating, with a rotational device, the bioreactor to a second horizontal orientation that is about 180 degrees from the first horizontal orientation; and after the rotating, expanding at least the first portion of the plurality of cells attached to the first portion of the at least one of the plurality of hollow fibers while the bioreactor is oriented in the second horizontal orientation by feeding the portion of cells and growing the portion of cells downward in the bioreactor under an influence of gravity toward a portion of the at least one of the plurality of hollow fibers that does not have attached cells. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification