Expansion Of Vero Cells Grown On Microcarriers In Serum-free Medium Using A BioFlo® 320 Bioreactor Control System

By Chen Po, Fan Xianzhi, Xie Zhenggang

The Vero cell line has been shown to be highly susceptible to a wide range of viruses and is recognized today as an important component of the cell technology recommended by WHO for the production of a wide range of viral vaccines. This cell line is an anchorage-dependent line requiring bovine serum for optimal cell growth during cultivation. Because of the complexity of bovine serum and its animal origin, however, the manufacturing process of biological products based on Vero cells must resolve significant quality control issues.

This study used a stirred-tank bioreactor and microcarrier beads to investigate the process of Vero cell culture in serum-free medium. The bioreactor was equipped with a perfusion device in order to perform a medium exchange and therefore maintain an appropriate glucose concentration in the culture medium. At the completion of the protocol, after 120 hours, the density of Vero cells in the bioreactor reached 7.2 × 106 cells /mL. These findings establish the strong potential of serum-free culture systems of Vero cells in bioreactors.