ABSTRACT
Recent advances in the field of biotechnology have increased the need for new on-line sensor technology development. Recombinant DNA technology has resulted in the development of complex systems for the expression of heterologous proteins in bacteria, yeast, and mammalian cell culture. The ability to monitor biomass concentration in a reactor is an important consideration in process development. In many recombinant systems the process improvement objective is to maintain a consistent level of product expression per unit of biomass and to maintain that level of expression at high cell density, thus increasing product yield. Sensors designed to monitor substrate concentrations could be used to calculate substrate utilization rates. Current needs for new sensor technology are based on an ongoing desire to increase our ability to monitor and ultimately control those parameters which influence the productivity of the fermentation.
