Monitoring and controlling the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration within the high aspect ratio vessel (HARV).

A probe-type oxygen sensor was developed utilizing a radioluminescent (RL)-based light source and a ruthenium-based sensing chemistry for monitoring the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration in a modified version of the NASA-designed high aspect ratio vessel (HARV), a batch rotating wall vessel. This sensor provided the means to monitor the DO concentration in the HARV without influencing the flow pattern, thereby retaining the low shear HARV environment conducive to the formation of 3-dimensional cell aggregates. This sensor lost significant signal as a result of exposure to the first three autoclave cycles, but only minimal change in signal was observed following exposure to subsequent autoclave cycles.

Evaluating prostate cancer cell culturing methods: a comparison of cell morphologies and metabolic activity.

LNCaP prostate cancer cells were grown under four unique cultivation conditions. Two types of bioreactor systems were used to observe the influence of low-shear culture conditions allowing for three-dimensional growth: a) a perfusion rotating wall vessel (RWV) bioreactor; and b) a high aspect ratio vessel (HARV) RWV bioreactor, with periodic medium exchanges (fed-batch). In addition, two growth methods utilized tissue culture flasks (TCFs): a) unaltered or conventional TCFs; and b) poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) [poly(HEMA)] coated TCFs, to inhibit cell attachment.

Continuous oxygen monitoring of mammalian cell growth on space shuttle mission STS-93 with a novel radioluminescent oxygen sensor.

A compact, flow-through oxygen sensor device based on luminescence quenching was used to monitor dissolved oxygen levels during mammalian cell growth on the STS-93 mission of the Columbia space shuttle. Excitation of an oxygen-sensitive ruthenium complex was provided by a radioluminescent light source (0.9 mm in diameter, 2.