PriMuS-Bioreactor: Printed Multiparameter Sensor Bioreactor

Synthetic biotechnology is focused on modifying the metabolic pathways of organisms using readily accessible materials with limited commercial potential to produce high-quality products. All organisms require energy sources, which results in growth curves that are limited by the availability of these resources. It is therefore essential to monitor not only the general reaction parameters (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen) but also the energy sources required for growth (carbon sources such as glucose and/or nitrogen sources such as ammonium or nitrate). The selection of commercially available bioreactors for biotechnological trials is based on a number of criteria.

The PriMuS Bioreactor is a versatile, one-time use platform for process control and data acquisition in 3D-printed bioreactors. The expertise of KSI Meinsberg in developing thick-film sensors and the expertise of TU Dresden, Professor of Bioengineering, in electrochemical and optical measurement, processing, and visualization, as well as prototype construction, will be combined in this proposed collaboration. The unique aspect of the PriMuS-Bioreactor Cooperation Project is a standalone solution for multiparameter measurement of previously inaccessible modular 3D-printed sterilizable bioreactors with a reaction volume of less than 100 mL. The scientific and technical challenge is to combine two additive manufacturing techniques, 3D printing and screen printing, to create a platform for miniaturized bioreactors with integrated parameter control.