Abstract

Needs and Requirements on Automated Cell Culture Processes

Andreas Traube, Head of Department, Laboratory Automation and Biomanufacturing Engineering Fraunhofer IPA

Cell and tissue cultures are frequently used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and bio-industry for component screening and toxicity and efficacy testing. However, the state-of-the-art processes for producing cells and tissue models are still very expensive, difficult and time-consuming, due to the complex and personnel-intensive manual manufacturing protocol. Today, cell-based screening campaigns are no longer restricted to protocols based on cell lines. Indeed, more meaningful cell models including primary cells, iPSCs or spheroids are applied. This results in more complex cultivation as well as screening protocols and challenging requirements for automation. The automated production of cell and tissue cultures is more than the sum of the single disciplines biology and automation – and therefore bears an enormous potential for development. The main application for cell culture robots today is the expansion and culture of cell lines for screening purposes, mostly used in big pharma. The handling and culture conditions for cell lines are simple, the protocols are fixed. In contrast, the culture of primary cells obtained from human tissue is a more complex process, based on flexible protocols. Extensive quality controls, at least optical monitoring has to be performed to monitor undesirable differentiation and change in cell function. The main requirement for future applications is the fast establishment of new automation protocols without having to adapt the cell system to the automated device. This talk will outline the absolute need for a detailed and standardized process description. Using defined principles for process transfer smart and flexible cell culture automation processes will become state-of-the-art.