Perfluorochemicals: their applications and benefits to cell culture

• Published in: Trends in biotechnology (Regular ed.) Vol. 16; no. 6; pp. 272 - 277
• Main Authors: Lowe, Kenneth C, Davey, Michael R, Power, J.Brian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.06.1998; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Cells, Cultured; cultured animal cells; Eukaryotic cell cultures; Fermentation; Fluorocarbons - pharmacology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gas supply; General aspects; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; micro-organisms; Microbial engineering. Fermentation and microbial culture technology; perfluorochemicals; plant cultures; Plants - metabolism; Semen Preservation; plant cultures; perfluorochemicals; cultured animal cells; gas supply; micro-organisms; Cell culture; Vegetals; Organic perhalocompound; Animal; Microorganism culture; Review; Fluorocarbon
• ISSN: 0167-7799; 1879-3096
• DOI: 10.1016/S0167-7799(98)01205-0

The properties of perfluorochemical liquids, particularly their high gas solubility, enables them to be exploited in cell biotechnology. They can facilitate respiratory-gas delivery to prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells in culture; in some systems, they can stimulate production of biomass, yields of commercially important cellular products and, for plant systems, expression of totipotency. The recoverability, and hence recycleability, of perfluorochemicals from aqueous systems makes their routine use a commercially feasible option. This article reviews the applications and beneficial effects of perfluorochemicals in cultured microbial, animal and plant cells, including both aerobic and anaerobic systems.