Project Description

Midwest FDA GMP Microbiology laboratory needed for microbiology testing of E. coli bacteria-based bioprocessing platform. This involves using agar-gelled culture media in 12-inch square trays with a membrane laid on top with E. coli growing on top of this, with harvesting after overnight room temperature incubation by scraping cell paste off the membrane. With each 12-inch square tray producing ~1.2 gram protein, ?1 kg of protein can be produced overnight using ?800 trays fitting in 2 standard lab. incubators. The bioprocessing is mechanically rather simple, involving handling of trays; involves no real-time sensors, automated controls and no liquids handling; and presumably can be handled by off-the-shelf robotic equipment.

The company?s immediate need is to automate this bioprocessing, or its totally-repetitive bottleneck parts, for in-house manufacture at ~1 kg/day (i.e., ?1,000 trays/day) capacity; and house this as an integrated system within a G-Con or similar modular unit.
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