Cellexus Limited Launches the New CellMaker PLUS Single-Use Bioreactor System with Full pH and DO Control

Cellexus Limited, which develops and commercializes novel single-use bioreactors and cell-based technologies for biotechnology research and production, is delighted to announce launch of the new CellMaker PLUS. This highly flexible, robust and easy-to-use single-use bioreactor system comes with improved control software and comes complete with full pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) control. The system is designed for microbial applications, especially bacterial and yeast cell culture, providing the highest ODs and improved yields of soluble protein in oxygen hungry cell types such as E.coli. Production, QC and service of the fully CE marked system is conducted from the new Cellexus facilities in Cambridgeshire (UK) which is ISO9001 certified.

The new CellMaker PLUS has been proven to provide highly efficient oxygen transfer allowing high rates of cell growth outperforming bacterial and yeast cell culture in other systems. It uses CellMaker PLUS Bags which are unique, next generation single-use, disposable cell culture bags in which the cells are grown with fast set-up times, no cleaning requirements and no cross-contamination. The CellMaker PLUS Bags also come with integrated, disposable pH and DO sensors to enable pH and DO to be closely monitored and controlled in the CellMaker PLUS system. Whilst other disposable systems require shakers, rockers, rollers or large environmental chambers, the CellMaker PLUS employs a novel airlift technology, available only from Cellexus, to mix and efficiently aerate the cells, which is simple, scalable and inexpensive to use. When the CellMaker PLUS Bag is placed in the system it is very efficiently aerated, with controlled air and oxygen flow for optimal cell growth and gentle, effective mixing to maintain cells in suspension. Oxygen levels are carefully monitored and controlled to ensure oxygen levels are maintained during growth of oxygen hungry cells such as E.coli. Temperature control enables production of the high yields of soluble protein under optimal conditions. The CellMaker PLUS also monitors and controls pH levels with automatic addition of acid and base when required to ensure pH is maintained at the optimal level for best cell growth.

System controls are displayed on a touch screen on which users can quickly and conveniently amend user definable functions. Process conditions are displayed in real time and data stored on the on board computer and presented as a CSV file for easy manipulation in a spreadsheet format. This new, improved control system incorporates many features identified by users, for example the calibration routines are simpler and semi-automated. There is also capability to set maximum/minimum gas levels and the volumes of acid and base dosed into the system are displayed so the control system can be adapted to suit most applications.

Mr Bob Cumming, the Cellexus General Manager, stated “We very pleased to launch the new CellMaker PLUS to provide a highly flexible, robust system to our customers. We have listened very carefully to customer feedback and made design and operational improvements to the control software and to the CellMaker PLUS system which includes full pH and DO monitoring capability to further improve performance. We continue to be committed to a program of product development to meet our customers’ needs and are also developing a range of peripheral products, which will further facilitate system use and performance and will launching those over the coming months.” He added, “We are also delighted to announce the recent launch of our new website, www.cellexusinc.com, on which additional information and data relating to the CellMaker PLUS can be found on http://cellexusinc.com/products/ ”.