Bioreactor Systems

The advances in genomics and proteomics during recent decades have promoted the development of optimised organisms, leading to a significant increase both in the number of cellular processes, normally based on animal cells, and in the production of a wide range of new products with very relevant applications in biomedicine, biotechnology, the food industry and bioremediation. Also, many more possibilities await discovery and optimisation beyond those already in existence.

This scenario calls for exploration of the capacities and applications of cells and enzymes, also rapid development of optimum cultivation conditions and determination of the therapeutic effects and/or toxic effects of the various molecules finally developed. This type of exploration must be carried out in a systematic, standardised and reliable manner.

Bioreactors are used in this field to ensure suitable cultivation conditions to enable optimum cell growth, as well as monitoring of the associated metabolic activity, by means of a set of probes and actuators.