Upstream (bioprocess)
Encyclopedia
The upstream part of a bioprocess refers to the first step in which biomolecules are grown, usually by bacterial or mammalian cell lines (see Cell culture
), in bioreactors
. When they reach the desired density (for batch and fed batch cultures) they are harvested and moved to the downstream
section of the bioprocess.
Cell culture
Cell culture is the complex process by which cells are grown under controlled conditions. In practice, the term "cell culture" has come to refer to the culturing of cells derived from singlecellular eukaryotes, especially animal cells. However, there are also cultures of plants, fungi and microbes,...
), in bioreactors
Chemical reactor
In chemical engineering, chemical reactors are vessels designed to contain chemical reactions. The design of a chemical reactor deals with multiple aspects of chemical engineering. Chemical engineers design reactors to maximize net present value for the given reaction...
. When they reach the desired density (for batch and fed batch cultures) they are harvested and moved to the downstream
Downstream (bioprocess)
The downstream part of a bioprocess refers to the part where the cell mass from the upstream are processed to meet purity and quality requirements. Downstream processing is usually divided into three main sections, a capture section, a purification section and a polishing section....
section of the bioprocess.