How scalable and suitable are single-use bioreactors?

Although the scalability of stainless steel bioreactors has been investigated for more than 50 years, and many methods for the characterization of these bioreactors have been evolved, the investigation of scalability of single-use bioreactors (SUBs) contains several new challenges. SUBs permit a versatile design that is not necessarily oriented towards classical geometric conditions and allows a wide variety of mixing principles. Among the various principles might be some advantageous for the cultivation of particular types of shear-sensitive cells, such as mycelium-forming organisms and stem cells. In addition, these systems must be applicable in emerging fields like continuous perfusion processes. In this paper, we will discuss the current state of disposable bioreactors in terms of cultivation performances, with a special emphasis on the impact of physiological properties of cells across several scales and cultivation modes beyond classical engineering parameters.