Development And Characterization Of A Parallel Microbioreactor System

Abstract

A parallel microbioreactor with novel optical sensors was developed for monitoring and controlling cell culture conditions. A dissolved oxygen sensor based upon the fluorescence quenching of ruthenium diphenylphenanthroline dichloride was developed, and a novel fiber optic sensor configuration was implemented in a six-well microbioreactor array. The oxygen sensor's response to dissolved oxygen was shown to be comparable to that of a commercial Clarke-type probe. Furthermore, the sensor configuration resulted in a sensor that exhibits sensitivity to oxygen but is independent of the turbidity of the surrounding fluid. An optical density sensor based on light transmittance was also created, and demonstrated similar response to conventional absorbance measurement methods. These optical sensors, being compact and relatively inexpensive to fabricate, are well suited for miniaturization and multiplexing. The six-well bioreactor system that has been developed herein serves as a prototype for potentially larger arrays of microbioreactors. The sensor design may also find applicability in a wide range of optical sensors.