Oxygenation of mammalian cell culture media by co-culture with photosynthetic algae

Wofford, Blake; Daniels-Diehl, Mathiew; Stevens, Kirsten; Cordner, Lily

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Oxygenation of mammalian cell culture media by co-culture with photosynthetic algae

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Oxygen depletion and media acidification in cell-based bioreactors jeopardize cell viability and product yield. A novel co-culture system involving mammalian cells and freshly isolated plant chloroplasts was envisaged. We hypothesized that photosynthetically active chloroplasts can remove carbon dioxide from and supplement oxygen to spent mammalian culture media. Media exchange between two separate chambers, one with mammalian cells and another with spinach chloroplasts, was tested. Our results indicate that, under light cycle, spinach chloroplasts are able to remain photosynthetically active in mammalian culture media for 24-48 hours at ambient temperatures, and that they are able to oxygenate spent mammalian cell culture media. Further improvements to the system promise the development of a sustainable, ecofriendly, and scalable mammalian cell-chloroplast hybrid bioreactor system.

This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

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