Automated microbioreactor systems for pharmaceutical bioprocessing: profiling of seeding and induction conditions in high-throughput fermentations

Introduction: Automated microbioreactor systems are designed for intensive bioprocess characterization. They facilitate reduction of development timelines without loss of valuable information. The RoboLector automated microbioreactor system was used for joint investigation of induction profiling and inoculation from seed cultures of different ages, which is only rarely recognized in literature for optimization. Results: The microbioreactor system allows reliable detection of growth phases and accurate inoculation procedures in combination with a true walk-away performance. Inocula taken from seed cultures resting in stationary growth phase for up to 10 h had no influence on induction profiling experiments, where late induction is preferred for maximum space-time-yield of recombinant enzyme production. Conclusion: The presented method allows for conduction of precise inoculation procedures and thus, for detailed studies on influential bioprocess parameters. The findings indicate that standardization in met...