Overcoming adherent seed train biomass limitations: Pall Xpansion® bioreactor

Background & Aim Cell and gene therapy technologies are a rapidly evolving area of therapeutics. However, this expansion also yields increased challenges and limitations for viral vector manufacturability. Here, we address the issue of high seed train biomass demands for large scale viral vector manufacturing in iCELLis® 500 bioreactors. In this work, the Xpansion Multiplate Bioreactor System is used to produce the seed train for a serum-containing, adherent 293T iCELLis bioreactor process. Methods, Results & Conclusion 293T growth was optimized in the Xpansion 10 bioreactor and then scaled up to the Xpansion 200 bioreactor. In the Xpansion 200 at a seeding density of 10,000 cells/cm2, we obtained a final viable cell density of 2.4 × 105 cells/cm2 and 2.9 × 1010 total cells which is sufficient cell recovery to inoculate the low compaction iCELLis 500/333 m2 at 8,000 cells/cm2 (2.7 × 1010 cells).