First Steps in Robot Automation of Sampling and Sample Management during Cultivation of Mammalian Cells in Pilot Scale

The robot automation of sampling and the subsequent treatment and storage of aliquots during mammalian cell cultivations was investigated. The complete setup, the development and testing of the sampling device, the robot arm, and the cell imaging system are described. The developed sampling device is directly coupled to a pilot bioreactor. It allows the computerized sterile filling of cell broth into 50 mL sample tubes. After each sampling the whole tubing system is steam sterilized. For further off-line treatment a robot takes the sample to the different devices. This robot is equipped with a camera and a force/torque sensor. A color-based object recognition guides the arm in a complex surrounding with different illumination situations, enabling the robot to load the sampling device with tubes and take the sample to further devices. For necessary pipetting and refilling we developed a computerized device. Cells are automatically stained and counted using an imaging system. The cell number and viability is automatically saved in a process control system together with the on-line parameters. During several cultivations in 20 and 100 L scale these main components of the automation strategy were successfully tested