High-Potency CAR-NK Cell Expansion in PBS Vertical-Wheel Bioreactors through Integrated Perfusion via Xcell ATF

This white paper highlights a collaboration between PBS Biotech, GeneFab, and Repligen to demonstrate a closed-system process workflow for natural killer (NK) cell expansion and scale-up using PBS Vertical-Wheel Bioreactors at 100mL and 3L working volumes. Batch, fed-batch, and perfusion medium exchange strategies using an Alternating Tangential Flow-2 (ATF2) device achieved clinically relevant yields of highly potent NK cells.

Key Takeaways

• 2.5X higher NK cell potency achieved using Vertical-Wheel Bioreactors compared to the G-Rex platform
• 2.6X greater cell yield during expansion with perfusion media exchange vs. fed-batch methods in PBS-3
• Vertical-Wheel bioreactors provide linear scalability, workflow flexibility, and bioprocess control required for reproducible manufacturing