🔬 Laura Breen and her team developed an automated method using flow-imaging microscopy.
🖼️ This allows real-time imaging and analysis, improving efficiency over traditional methods.
🧬 It offers insights into cell health, enabling timely intervention when needed.
💡 Such innovations could enhance biopharmaceutical production significantly!
Introduction:
The article discusses a new automated method for in-line analysis of cell concentrations and viability in bioreactors using advanced imaging techniques. This approach enhances bioprocessing efficiency by allowing real-time monitoring and quick intervention during cell production, particularly in the biopharmaceutical industry.
- The traditional method of sampling and staining for cell viability is cumbersome and time-consuming, leading to inefficiencies in bioprocess management.
- Researchers from NIBRT have developed an in-line flow-imaging microscopy system called PharmaFlow that automates cell sampling and imaging.
- The system captures images of cells flowing past the camera at high speeds while analyzing their morphological characteristics to distinguish viable cells from non-viable ones.
- Real-time data analysis enables quicker decision-making and remediation during bioprocessing, addressing delays associated with conventional offline methods.
- The potential for further advancements includes the application of multivariate data analysis and deep learning to gain insights into cell population dynamics and enhance monitoring capabilities.
Conclusion:
The adoption of in-line imaging methods in bioprocessing represents a significant advancement in monitoring cell viability and density. This technology not only streamlines the analysis process but also facilitates immediate responses to changes in cell health, ultimately supporting more efficient biopharmaceutical production and improving overall bioprocess integrity.






