Microcarrier Culture

Abstract Microcarrier culture provides an easily scalable approach to culture of anchorage‐dependent mammalian cells, providing a much higher surface area‐to‐volume ratio compared with roller bottles or flat layer cultivation systems. Microcarriers are also useful for the production of recombinant proteins, particularly to facilitate cell retention in cases where perfusion would be advantageous, for example, low specific productivity or unstable products. Microcarriers provide the cultivation surface that is necessary for adherent cells, and macroporous carriers can be used to immobilize suspension cells. In this review of microcarrier culture, we discuss the history of microcarrier use, strategies for optimal development of microcarrier‐based processes, the use of microcarriers for viral vaccine and recombinant protein production, and new biomedical applications for microcarriers, including tissue engineering, stem‐cell culture, and in vitro toxicology.