Mammalian cell culture density determination using a laser through-beam sensor

• Published in: BioTechniques Vol. 65; no. 4; pp. 224 - 226
• Main Authors: Rue, Sarah M, Anderson, Paul W, Miller, Jessica M, Fanale, Salvatore G, Chang, Jim Y, Glaser, Scott M, Lesley, Scott A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Future Science Ltd 01.10.2018; 01.10.2018
• Subjects: Animals; automation; Cell Count - instrumentation; Cell Count - methods; cell counting; cell culture; Cell Culture Techniques - instrumentation; Cell Culture Techniques - methods; cell density; Cell Line; CHO Cells; Cricetulus; Equipment Design; Humans; laser; Lasers; mammalian; spectrophotometry; cell density; spectrophotometry; mammalian; automation; laser; cell culture; cell counting
• ISSN: 0736-6205; 1940-9818
• DOI: 10.2144/btn-2018-0059

High-throughput protein expression platforms are increasingly used to produce proteins for many applications: to support studies in structure/function, regulation and proteomics, as well as for direct use as potential biotherapeutic agents for medical applications. Here we describe a device that we refer to as the flask density reader (FDR) consisting of a through-beam laser and sensor, and a customized culture flask-receiving nest. The FDR has been integrated onto GNF System™'s automated protein expression platform to enable rapid, noninvasive, fully automated spectrophotometric determination of cell densities in suspension mammalian cell cultures. The FDR reduces the risk of culture contamination from frequent flask sampling and greatly reduces the time and effort needed to count cells using off-line methods.