Improvements in spinner-flask designs for insect-cell suspension culture.

Experiments have been conducted to characterize the growth of Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm) (Sf9) cells in standard and modified spinner designs. Results suggest that in standard spinner flasks growth is limited by mixing and oxygen transfer. Modifications to spinner geometry, baffling and agitator aspect ratio provided increases in growth rate and final cell density. Improvements in the performance of spinners, such as those described herein, have the potential to simplify a process and decrease the chance of contamination by decreasing the number of required manipulations and increase process productivity by decreasing inoculum train cycle times.