While the sequencing of the human genome has been a mammoth task, many have pointed out that this effort pales in comparison to what lies ahead. A logical and necessary next step is to identify what turns these genes on and what proteins they express. In vitro cell culture will play a critical role in elucidating these factors.

There is an enormous and rapidly growing market that requires advanced fermentation and cell culturing technologies in order to exploit the human genome knowledge base. This results from the historic shift to biologics (i.e. protein-based drugs) that is currently taking place and which requires cell culture and fermentation to produce the drug: the gene is cloned and expressed in a suitable host (e.g. E. coli, yeast or mammalian cells) which in turn is placed in nutrient solutions and cultivated in closed sterile vessels at various scales.   The numerous experiments required at this phase have traditionally been done in simple glass or plastic vessels, but with limited control and virtually no process data other than that which can be obtained off-line, with limited accuracy and significant expenditure of labor.   Alternatively, if more precise environmental monitoring/control is desired, small (liter scale) bioreactors are used. However, these cannot be utilized in large numbers due to the expense. Even if they were to cost an order of magnitude less, the effort involved in set-up, sensor calibration, cleaning validation, sterilization etc, makes their use far too labor intensive to be convenient.

Fluorometrix has a potentially paradigm shifting approach that relies on simple peel-and-stick sensor patches that are introduced into any transparent vessel and non-invasively monitored optically from outside the vessel. These patches are disposable and can be manufactured as an integrated part of the vessel. Our first product, Cellphase®,  was engineered to be a low-cost non-invasive oxygen sensor. It is now in use in over 100 major pharma/biotech companies and has served to validate the need for such technology. Our next product, the High Throughput Bioreactor™ (HTBR™) is designed to follow in its path and will allow a dozen simultaneous experiments to be conducted while monitoring oxygen, pH and optical density (OD- measure of cell mass).

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Additional Information

Why Fluorometrix?

Ironically, despite breathtaking advances in molecular biology, the most widely used culture technology is little changed from the days of our ancestors fermenting wine in closed jars. Fluorometrix closes this gap by offering a suite of low-cost, high tech and high volume products.

Product spotlight:

Introducing Cellphase®

Fluorometrix introduces a full line of low-cost, non-invasive optical sensors for measuring pH, DO and pCO₂.  Our "coaster" instrument design, using inexpensive, disposable, sterilizable "peel-and-stick" foils, affords ease-of-use with virtually any vessel - flasks, reactors, bags.  Click the image below for more information, call us at (978) 461-2468 or email us at sales@fluorometrix.com: