Effect of serum concentration on production of monoclonal antibodies and on shear sensitivity of a hybridoma

The effect of serum content of culture medium on the specific production rate of monoclonal antibodies (Mab's) and on shear sensitivity has been studied with hybridoma's, cultured in a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR). No decrease in specific Mab-production was found when the serum concentration was reduced from 10 to 2.5%, while steady state cell concentrations were hardly affected as well. In contrast the cell death rate in a bubble column strongly increased when the serum concentration was lowered, which could be ascribed to a reduced physical protective effect by the serum.List of Symbols k _d s^–1 death-rate constant - k _g s^–1 growth-rate constant - D m diameter of bubble column - d m diameter of air bubble - H m height of bubble column - X m³ hypothetical killing volume - X (m³/m³) specific hypothetical killing volume - F m³/s volumetric air-flow rate - C cells/m³ number of viable cells - C₀ cells/m³ number of viable cells at t=0 - t s time