MiniPRO Vertical-Wheel Bioreactor System as an Efficient Scale-Down Model for iPSC Process Development, Enabling Process Control, Perfusion Culture, and Closed Operation
This poster evaluates the PBS MiniPRO as a controlled scale-down platform for human induced pluripotent stem cell process development. The system combines four 500 mL Vertical-Wheel vessels with online pH and dissolved oxygen monitoring, gas control, integrated retention filters, perfusion pumps, and closed fluid-handling connections. Experiments examined process reproducibility, direct thaw from high-density cell banks, seed train, commercial and modified media, settlement and perfusion feeding, oxygen control, aggregate morphology, and sampling methods. Controlling dissolved oxygen at 50% increased final cell yield compared with an uncontrolled 0.5 L incubator condition. Growth rates and metabolic profiles were comparable between MiniPRO and 3 L cultures operated at equivalent energy dissipation (EDR) rates across scales. The study also validates a closed-system sampling workflow designed to collect representative iPSC aggregate samples while limiting gravity-driven settling in transfer lines.
This publication reports a fully suspended process for expansion and six-stage differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells into stem cell-derived islets in 0.1 L and 0.5 L Vertical-Wheel® Bioreactors. A fivefold increase in vessel volume produced a twelvefold increase in islet-equivalent yield without compromising islet structure. The 27-day process generated endocrine populations expressing ?-, ?-, and ?-cell markers with glucose-responsive insulin secretion and transcriptomic characteristics approaching adult islets. The study also evaluated donor-derived iPSC lines, cellular…
This protocol provides step-by-step guidance for forming and expanding pluripotent stem cell aggregates in PBS-MINI Vertical-Wheel® bioreactors. The workflow begins with thawing and adherent seed-train culture in T-flasks, followed by transfer to three-dimensional suspension culture in 0.1 L or 0.5 L vessels. Instructions cover inoculation, medium exchange, sampling, morphology assessment, metabolite and pH analysis, cell counting, viability testing, and harvest in the PBS-Mini bioreactor. The document presents recommended starting parameters for seeding density, working volume, agitation…
The PBS Closed-System Sampling Conical supports aseptic, representative sample collection from PBS Vertical-Wheel® Bioreactors while maintaining process integrity and sample quality. The single-use assembly combines a gamma-irradiated vented conical, integrated dip tube, and weldable tubing to reduce contamination risk, handling steps, and operator variability. Compatible with stem cells, immune cells, organoids, and aggregate cultures, it supports routine in-process analyses including cell counts, viability testing, metabolite monitoring, and aggregate characterization.
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