Cultivating cells and their biological prods. with fermenter - and controlled membrane sepn. of unwanted components

摘要

Prior to return to a fermenter, cells cultivated in a broth are sepd. by a hydrophobic membrane, made e.g. of hollow fibres and sterilisable by steam. The membrane is suitable for materials of specific molecular wt. ranges. While waste prods. are similarly removed, together with materials which could impede cell growth, one or more medium components of a useful substance produced by the cell and whose molecular wt. is less than that of the medium component(s), are similarly removed and returned to the fermenter. These include expensive high molecular wt. medium components of sera, whose return facilitates high density cell cultivation to reduce operating costs. Between upper and lower ends of a container, cultivation is accelerated by the intensive mixing derived by internal jets delivering fast gas streams, without damaging cells. USE/ADVANTAGE - Produces wide range of useful prods., e.g. Interferon, enzymes, and immunoglobin in economically desirable amts.