Continuous Bioprocessing
Developing a hands-free cell harvesting method
Lily Westerhoff
University of Bath, United Kingdom
bioreactor
scaffold
Overview
Who: Lily Westerhoff, Ph.D. student in chemical engineering
When: 2021 – Present
Institutes: University of Bath, United Kingdom
Supervisors: Marianne Ellis, head of department of chemical engineering at the University of Bath
Summary
Lily is developing a cell harvesting method that would allow for continuous culture and harvest of cultured cells. Bioprocessing is typically done in batches, requiring shut downs for harvest and cleaning between batches. Lily is testing a variety of cell detachment tools such as chemicals, temperature, enzymes, and shear stress to eliminate the need to open the bioreactor everytime.
Why This Matters
Lily’s research on continuous bioprocessing for muscle cells could reduce the cost of cultured meat production. Continuous manufacturing is one of today’s most important tools for modernizing the pharmaceutical industry, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It will be equally important in cellular agriculture.
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