Hi everyone!
I am working on a bioreactor measuring pressure differences. We have introduced a membrane with cells inside a chamber, which creates the pressure differences. The cell media is introduced in the system with a constant flow. The set up is located in the incubator at 37ºC and 5% Co2.
However, we are afraid the chamber does not allow the proper gas exchange. Although the cell media does not change its color (maintains reddish color, no pH alterations) after overnight trials (~20h), we are afraid the cells enter in hypoxia.
To overcome this problem, we are thinking of previously bubbling the cell media with oxygen and then infusing trough the system.
Is this a logical approach? Could it work? Has someone other ideas?
Pd: It is important to avoid any kind of bubbles in the system because alterations in pressure reads could happen.
Thank you very much!
Hi, this depends on your design, I think you can do this using by a sparger with a very small pore size (less than 1 mm) that causes very small bubbles. At the same time, it reduces fluid pressure and increases the level of oxygen contact with the cell media. (Production of small bubbles is very important in improving oxygen solubility in cell media)
I do not have any direct suggestion. But I would take care to avoid hyperoxia in the system if you choose to bubble oxygen in the medium. Maybe flushing the media with a gas mixture with a known composition would be safer.
Good luck.
Normally, oxygen solubility is strongly dependent on (1) the amount of dissolved electrolyte salt(s) (decreases at higher concentration of electrolyte), (2) temperature (decreases at higher temperatures), and (3) pressure (increases at higher pressure).
You might want to try hollow fiber oxygenators available commercially. They work by diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide across a microporous hollow fiber bundle. You feed the inlet with the mixture of gas from a pump (any pump) and only oxygen will diffuse through the pores. Here are a few useful links:
1. https://www.permselect.com/products/pdmsxa-2500 (I've been using this with fairly good outcome). But they also have other sizes based on your needs.
2. Article Designing Microporous Hollow Fibre Blood Oxygenators
Hope it helps. Good luck!
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