Gas permeable bioreactor and method of use

A gas permeable bioreactor comprising a tubular vessel, said tubular vessel having walls, closed ends, a substantially horizontal longitudinal central axis extending between said ends;

• means for rotating the vessel;
• and one or more vessel ports for transferring materials into and out of said tubular vessel;
• characterized by at least one wall constructed at least partially of a gas permeable material;
• wherein the tubular vessel is formed by a first tubular member, and a second tubular member slidably interconnected with the first tubular member, wherein the first tubular member fits slidably into the second tubular member, forming a liquid tight seal therebetween and providing a variable volume vessel;
• a permeable membrane positioned across the first tubular member to provide a cell growth chamber and a reservoir chamber in said vessel;
• and
• means for entrapping gas bubbles away from said cell growth chamber.

A method for growing cells in a gas permeable bioreactor comprising:

• filling a bioreactor formed from a vessel with walls constructed at least partially of a gas permeable material, said vessel having an inside surface, closed ends, a permeable membrane positioned to provide a cell growth chamber and a reservoir chamber in said vessel, and a substantially horizontal longitudinal central axis extending between said ends, with a liquid culture medium and cells;
• suspending said cells, without appreciable mixing, in the liquid culture medium in the cell growth chamber in the vessel by rotating said bioreactor about its substantially horizontal longitudinal central axis at a rate that suspends said cells in the liquid culture medium;
• and
• continuing rotation of the bioreactor for a time period that permits cell growth;
• characterized by permeating gas through the gas permeable material;
• moving gas bubbles suspended in the liquid culture medium out of the cell growth chamber;
• and
• trapping gas bubbles suspended in the liquid culture medium in the reservoir chamber.