Project Overview

Autologous induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells show great potential for use in patient-specific medical therapies. In order for this therapy to be effective, a bioreactor cassette system is required that is capable of providing conditions for growing multiple iPS cell samples from individual patients without exchanging media between samples. Last semester we focused on basic design concepts, material selection, and flow analysis. This semester we collected data regarding cassette function and cell behavior within a simulated bioreactor system, and found that the formation of bubbles (3.6  1.1 mL of air after four days of operation) within the system prevented optimal performance of the bioreactor cassette. To address bubble accumulation, we designed a bubble trap better suited to our needs than similar commercially available products, characterized its performance, and confirmed its usability in the bioreactor system with ergonomic testing. Initial studies with HEK-293 cells in the bioreactor cassette system and bubble trap show improved cassette performance, but revealed areas for ergonomic improvements in the design. Future work includes replicating the initial cell study with the bubble trap in the bioreactor system and improving the ergonomics of the cassette’s design.

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Files

• Final Paper (December 9, 2010)
• Midsemester Presentation (December 9, 2010)
• Product Design Specifications Sheet (December 9, 2010)
• Final Poster (December 9, 2010)
• Midsemester Paper (October 20, 2010)

Contact Information

Team Members

• Kimberli Kamer - Team Leader
• Allison Johnson - Communicator
• Elise Larson - BSAC
• Laura Zeitler - BWIG

Advisor and Client

• Prof. Naomi Chesler - Advisor
• Derek Hei - Client
• Sheku Kamara - Alternate Contact

Related Projects

• Spring 2011: Development of a bioreactor cassette for autologous pluripotent stem cell production
• Fall 2010: Development of a bioreactor cassette for stem cell production
• Spring 2010: Bioreactor Cassette