Cell line development meets Raman spectroscopy
KBI Biopharma’s monitoring of a diverse array of cell lines and cell concentrations in minimal volume for automated cell cultivation
With Endress+Hauser's support, KBI Biopharma has developed a robust predictive model using a Raman analyzer system to monitor CHO-M cell cultures. This non-invasive technique, requiring smaller sample volumes than traditional methods, is ideal for cell concentration monitoring in cell line development. KBI Biopharma plans to expand the use of Raman technology for broader upstream processing applications and extended process parameter monitoring of CHO cell cultures.
Benefits:
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Easy-to-use system: Real-time data acquisition and online process provides valuable process insights with no complex modeling and an intuitive display of results
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Production cost reduction and sustainability: Minimal analysis reagents and a consumable-free design helps to lower production costs. Cell counting is typically performed to monitor cell growth rates throughout the routine cell passaging process
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Process automation compatibility: The Raman flow assembly allows for a seamless integration into future automated cell cultivation platforms
Customer challenges
KBI Biopharma focuses on enhancing its process automation at different stages of a research cell bank generation, taking into consideration key criteria:
Low volume: At early cell line development stages, volumes of cultures are within the milliliter range.
High-throughput: Hundreds of isolated clone candidates need to be screened to select the right producer.
Speed: Reducing timelines in cell line development processes is critical to accelerate the biologic’s development path.
Our solution
KBI Biopharma chose to partner with Endress+Hauser to screen for cell growth performances during CLD using Raman spectroscopy, from the design of the experiments down to chemometrics modeling support and training. The selected Raman system is tailored for small volume and flow paths, leveraging signal amplification and low-noise technology to deliver fast results. It consists of the following components:
Raman Rxn2 analyzer
Rxn-10 probe
Raman flow assembly