A novel LED-based 2D-fluorescence spectroscopy system for in-line monitoring of Chinese hamster ovary cell cultivations - Part I

A new two-dimensional fluorescence sensor system was developed for in-line monitoring of mammalian cell cultures. Fluorescence spectroscopy allows for the detection and quantification of naturally occurring intra- and extracellular fluorophores in the cell broth. The fluorescence signals correlate the the cells' current redox state and other relevant process parameters. Cell culture pretests with twelve different excitation wavelengths showed that only three wavelengths account for a vast majority of spectral variation. Accordingly, the newly developed device utilizes three high-power LEDs as excitation sources in combination with a back-thinned CCD-spectrometer for fluorescence detection