The use of dinoflagellate bioluminescence to characterize cell stimulation in bioreactors

  1. Antony K. Chen1,
  2. Michael I. Latz2,
  3. John A. Frangos1,3,*

Article first published online: 22 APR 2003

DOI: 10.1002/bit.10647

Issue

Biotechnology and Bioengineering

Biotechnology and Bioengineering

Volume 83, Issue 1, pages 93–103, 5 July 2003

Additional Information

How to Cite

Chen, A. K., Latz, M. I. and Frangos, J. A. (2003), The use of dinoflagellate bioluminescence to characterize cell stimulation in bioreactors. Biotechnol. Bioeng., 83: 93–103. doi: 10.1002/bit.10647

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Bioengineering, University of California—San Diego, La Jolla, California

  2. 2

    Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California—San Diego, La Jolla, California

  3. 3

    La Jolla Bioengineering Institute, 505 Coast Blvd. South, La Jolla, California 92037; telephone: 858-456-7505; fax: 858-456-7540

*Department of Bioengineering, University of California—San Diego, La Jolla, California

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 22 APR 2003
  2. Article first published online: 22 APR 2003
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 11 DEC 2002
  4. Manuscript Received: 11 JUL 2002

Funded by

  • National Science Foundation. Grant Number: BES-9730782

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Keywords:

  • bioluminescence;
  • bioreactor;
  • dinoflagellate;
  • Pyrocystis;
  • shear;
  • temporal gradients

Abstract

Bioluminescent dinoflagellates are flow-sensitive marine organisms that produce light emission almost instantaneously upon stimulation by fluid shear in a shear stress dose-dependent manner. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that monitoring bioluminescence by suspended dinoflagellates can be used as a tool to characterize cellular response to hydrodynamic forces in agitated bioreactors. Specific studies were performed to determine: (1) impeller configurations with minimum cell activation, (2) correlations of cellular response and an integrated shear factor, and (3) the effect of rapid acceleration in agitation. Results indicated that (1) at a volumetric mass transfer coefficient of 3 × 10−4 s−1, marine impeller configurations were less stimulatory than Rushton configurations, (2) bioluminescence response and a modified volumetric integrated shear factor had an excellent correlation, and (3) rapid acceleration in agitation was highly stimulatory, suggesting a profound effect of temporal gradients in shear in increasing cell stimulation. By using bioluminescence stimulation as an indicator of agitation-induced cell stimulation and/or damage in microcarrier cultures, the present study allows for the verification of hypotheses and development of novel mechanisms of cell damage in bioreactors. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 83: 93–103, 2003.

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