Tools for high-throughput process and medium optimization.

Shaking technology in combination with small-scale disposable plastic vessels has become a notable bioprocess optimization tool widely exploited for cells grown in suspension. This chapter focuses on the two most accommodating culture systems: 50 mL centrifugation tubes and 96-deepwell plates. Used by many laboratories for routine passaging of suspension cultures and all types of optimization experiments as flexible culture system, the 50 mL shake tubes are the preferred vessels for manual manipulations, while microtiter plates are the ideal containers when automatic liquid handling systems are available. Both culture systems can offer to the cells a well-mixed environment which is close to the conditions found at larger scale in production bioreactors.