High Surface Cultivation System With Surface Increasing Substrate

Field Of The Invention

The present invention is directed to new culture vessels, in particular to culture vessels comprising a surface-increasing substrate within the vessel, said substrate being made of a single mold and optionally means enabling convection in a fluid, as well as to processes using said vessels. Moreover the present invention is directed to culture systems of interconnected array of culture vessels. Background Of The Invention

Culture vessels, like roller bottles, are widely used for cultivation of cells, particularly of mammalian cells. The main applications are growing of cells, producing of cellular products or virus particles. Typical processes are related to processing of high density cell cultures, co-cultures, cell infection and sample dialysis. Typically, culture vessels like roller bottles are containers of cylindrical shape that enable the rotation of the bottle around its longitudinal axis. The bottles are filled with a liquid medium for cultivating cells and by continuous or semi-continuous rotation the liquid is keeping the inner wall of the bottle wetted for cell growth and allows the convection of the medium. Principally, culture vessels, like roller bottles, are not completely filled with the liquid medium. There is always a gas phase that usually comprises half or even more of the volume. Moreover, established roller bottles provide normally a small screw cap either with a membrane or without a membrane to enable gas exchange to the environment. Screw caps without a membrane are commonly not closed completely to facilitate the aforesaid gas exchange. Rotation of the bottle usually carried out by using appropriate apparatus with rotating rollers that keep the bottle rolling.

In commonly used culture systems the pH of the liquid medium has to be maintained accurately close to physiologic levels. This is for example assured by utilizing a buffering system in the tissue culture fluid, in conjunction with an incubator in which carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) is provided at a specific rate (usually to keep a concentration of 5 to 7 volume percent within the atmosphere of the incubator). Inflow Of CO ₂ into the roller bottle is achieved by partially open the screw cap or via the embedded membrane that allows the gas exchange. The CO ₂ reacts with water to form a weak acid and a carbonic acid, which in turn inter-reacts with the buffering system to maintain the pH near physiologic levels.

However, existing solutions have significant drawbacks in terms of efficiency. Most of them are related to the low performance of cell densities or, respectively, with the yield of cells or cell products or cell by-products. One reason is that the surface volume ratio within a system is limited because a specific minimum volume of the gas phase has to be kept in order to allow the supply and equilibrium of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Another aspect is that the surface of the roller bottle is used as an active surface, particularly for cells that are growing adherently or semi-adherently. With a given surface area the space for attachment of adherent or semi-adherent cells is limited by the existing bottle design. In addition, the exchange of liquid medium is required to provide nutritional agents for vital cell cultivation. Compared to controlled bioreactors or perfusion systems, a conventional roller bottle requires a regular partial or complete exchange or supplementation of the liquid medium or nutritional compounds as well as supplemental factors. A significant increase of cell densities, cell activity, proliferation, production of cell products or by-products is therefore depending on the available surface area, quantity of nutritional compounds, oxygen and CO ₂ equilibrium and, not limited to, also of the biologic nature of the use type of cell or cell line. Specifically for each individual cell type or cell line, there are some conditions that suppress the vitality or limit the total number of vital cells within a given culture system. Another significant factor is that a living cell also produces by-products that affect the vitality or productivity or proliferation or biologic function of the cell itself or the cell culture. Among those is for example lactic acid that affects the pH of the culture system and sometimes is shifted toward non-physiologic acidic values with adverse effects to the culture system. Another significant known issue is that the convection of nutritional compounds and gas within the liquid medium has also a significant impact on cell growth and vitality particularly because suitable convection can improve the microenvironment for cells.

Existing solutions are focusing on single aspects of the aforesaid explained array of shortcomings. For example, EP 1 400 584 A2 focuses on a roller bottle design that has an improved sealing that is not reducing the venting function of a membrane cap. US 2004/0029264 Al provides a multi-chamber roller bottle of two cylindrical chambers that

are interconnected whereby one chamber contains fresh liquid medium and the second the actual cell culture, hence increasing the overall volume and space of the culture vessel but reducing the actual available cell culture volume. US 2004/0211747 Al provides a roller bottle with helical pleats for increasing the surface and facilitating the rinsing of the liquid medium during the rotation to assure wetting of the complete surface. However, the increase of surface particularly could be beneficial for adherently growing cells but without any significant benefit for suspension cell cultures.

Furthermore, conventional solutions are based on increasing surfaces but not in parallel assuring sufficient supply of medium, gas and other compounds. It has been found that increase of only surfaces results in limited increase of cell numbers. Summary Of The Invention

One aspect of the present invention is to provide a culture vessel that is useful for cultivation of cells, tissues or tissue-like cell cultures, organs or organ- like cell cultures, multicellular organisms for different purposes.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a cultivation system for the aforesaid objective, whereby the cultivation system can be used for batch processing, extended batch processing, in-line or continuous or perfusion processes.

A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a cultivation process for cultivation of cells, tissues or tissue-like cell cultures, organs or organ- like cell cultures, multicellular organisms for different purposes.

A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a culture vessel that comprises a significant increase of available surface for adherent or semi-adherent growth of cell cultures, controllable and improved convection of the liquid medium and the nutritional compounds, and/or significant improvement of gas exchange and equilibrium of oxygen and CO ₂ within the cultivation system.

A further aspect of the present invention is to provide active surfaces that allow improved convection of fluids, exchange of compounds, removal of cell-by products and/or

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stabilization of physiologic conditions to allow for cultivation of high cell concentrations in the cultivation system.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed culture vessel suitable for cultivation of cells and/or tissues comprising at least one reversibly closable aperture in the vessel wall, and at least one surface-increasing substrate within the vessel, said substrate being made of a single mold.

The surface-increasing substrate is a non-particulate material made of a single mold as further described herein. Further preferred embodiments are described herein below and in the dependent claims.

The invention further provides a system comprising at least two vessels as described herein, wherein the vessels are interconnected via at least one aperture in their vessel wall, and a cultivation process using such a vessel or system, in which at least one type of cells, tissue, tissue-like cell cultures, organs, organ-like cell cultures, or multicellular organisms are cultivated in the presence of at least one fluid or solid medium necessary for growing and/or cultivating the aforesaid culture. Brief Description Of The Figures

Figure 1 shows basic exemplary culture vessel designs for use in the present invention.

Figure 2 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a vessel with a reversibly removable cap design.

Figures 3, 4 and 6 schematically illustrate exemplary blade orientations towards the longitudinal axis of the vessel.

Figure 5 schematically illustrates a network-like system of blades.

Figures 7 to 9 schematically illustrate exemplary helical arrangements of blades.

Figure 10 schematically illustrates cross sections of the vessel or convection means having wave- like or undulating blades.

Figures 11 and 12 schematically illustrate removably fixed blades in a vessel or blade holder.

Figure 13 schematically illustrates an embodiment having perforated blades.

Figure 14 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a blade holder having holes or capillaries in the blades providing a fluid connection between different sectors and outside of the convection means.

Figure 15 schematically illustrates an embodiment having holes connecting different sectors or compartment of the convection means or vessel.

Figures 16 to 18 and 20 schematically illustrate convection means in a vessel having different arrangements of blades fixed to a blade holder.

Figure 19 schematically illustrates an exemplary blade holder for holding a plurality of blades.

Figure 21 schematically illustrates an exemplary convection means inserted into a roller bottle.

Figure 22 schematically illustrates a section from a layered structure of a exemplary convection means.

Figure 23 schematically illustrates cogwheel like designs of convection means (A to C) and of roller bottles, rendering them rotatable in a staple (D).

Figure 24 schematically illustrates vessels having at least two compartments or sectors, wherein Figure 24A shows two sectors defined by concentric arrangement of cylinders, and Figure 24 B shows four sectors created by dividing the outer annular space into two compartments.

Figure 25 schematically illustrates a vessel having an inner structure comprising a plurality of sectors having apertures at the separating wall.

Figure 26 schematically illustrates a system comprising a plurality of connected culture vessels.

Figure 27 schematically illustrates a vessel wherein one of the compartments is filled with a particulate filler material or carrier.

Figure 28 schematically illustrates an embodiment that consists of three compartments.

Figures 29 and 30 schematically illustrate substrates having different flow-channel-like cavity configurations.

Figure 31 schematically illustrates Y-shape based surface-increasing substrates.

Figure 32 schematically illustrates honeycomb-structured substrates.

Figures 33 and 34 illustrate further embodiments of the inventive culture vessel. Detailed Description Of The Invention

The inventors have found that in order to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art, specifically in order to increase the available active surface for gas and liquid media exchange in a cell culture vessel, the provision of a surface-increasing substrate in the vessel is highly desirable.

The present invention in one embodiment provides a highly efficient cell culture vessel for cultivation of cells and/or tissues comprising at least one reversibly closable aperture in the vessel wall, and at least one surface-increasing substrate within the vessel, said substrate being made of a single mold.

The vessel comprises at least one single mould substrate, preferably of a geometry selected from the group consisting of plate, round slice, discoid, cubic, cylindrical, tube-like, spherical, y-like and star-shaped geometry. Also, the single mould substrate may be planar in at least one plane, i.e. at one of its surfaces. The single mould substrate can be substantially of the same net shape of the culture vessel but of smaller dimension that allows the substrate to fit into said vessel, or to fit into a compartment of the vessel, or to fit into a compartment of a convection means as described herein. Furthermore, the single mould substrate may comprise at least one opening that partially or completely penetrates the mold, thereby generating at least one cavity or hole in the mould enabling in-flow or flowing through of fluids.

The following more detailed description in part makes reference to the figures, which exemplify certain preferred but not limiting aspects of the invention. Vessel

In one embodiment, the inventive vessel preferably has a shape of a cylindrical body, although any other geometric embodiments that are rotation-symmetric or can be rotated or agitated with an appropriate apparatus maybe also suitable. In one embodiment, the culture

vessel has the form of a conventional roller bottle, or even a bag of a flexible, optionally disposable material. At least one inner wall can be provided, dividing the inner space of the vessel into at least two compartments or sectors, wherein the wall preferably allows fluid communication between the two sectors.

The length and/or diameter of the vessel can be scaled to any desired and suitable size depending on the particular use. However, it is preferred that the culture vessel, more preferably a vessel in the shape of a cylindrical body, can have a length larger than 10 mm, preferably more than 5 cm, still more preferred larger than 20 cm and yet more preferred larger than 50 cm. Thus, it is preferred that the vessel is cylindrical and has a length in the range of 1 to 5,000 cm, more preferred in the range of 2 to 320 cm, still more preferred from 20 to 180 cm, yet more preferred from 40 to 240 cm and still yet more preferred from 60 to 120 cm

Moreover the cylindrical vessel can have a diameter in the range of 1 to 1 ,000 cm, preferably in the range of 2 to 100 cm, more preferably in the range of 10 to 80 cm, still more preferred from 20 to 60 cm and still yet more preferred from 35 to 55 cm.

Preferred ratios of diameter to length are 0.1 :50, more preferred 1 :2 and still more preferred larger than 1 :3.

The culture vessel comprises at least one aperture, preferably an aperture being reversibly closable. The aperture may serve as an inlet or outlet for liquid or gaseous media, and may be equipped with suitable means for sealing against leakage, valves etc., as conventionally known. It can be preferred that the aperture is located at the base of the vessel. Thus in case the culture vessel is in the shape of a cylindrical body, at least one aperture is located on one lateral end that allows in particular the filling of a liquid medium and/or cell suspension, e.g. using a pipette. The opposite lateral end of the cylindrical culture vessel can be without an aperture, however, in a further embodiment said opposite lateral end also comprises at least one aperture. The apertures are preferably centered to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical culture vessel. Depending on the particular application, the aperture shape

may vary. Thus the shape of the aperture can be rectangular or can have any other regular or irregular form. However, it is preferred that the shape of the aperture is substantially round.

Any means known in the art to reversibly close and open the aperture can be used. However, a closing like a screw cap is preferably employed. In such a case the culture vessel comprises preferably an appropriate thread, for example by comprising a threaded neck. In preferred embodiments the apertures have a neck upon which the screw cap is located. In some embodiments the vessel is narrowed toward the aperture or the respective neck comprising the aperture, in other embodiments both lateral ends of the vessel are narrowed. In some specific embodiments the aperture is not embedded into the lateral ends, but preferably at the central body of the culture vessel. In further preferred embodiments more than one aperture is comprised at the vessel body, optionally any combination of at least one lateral aperture and at least one aperture at the body of the vessel.

Basic exemplary culture vessel designs are given in figures 1 and 2.

In some embodiments, at least one aperture and/or the closing of at least one aperture comprises a membrane for gas exchange as conventionally known, preferably with an appropriate sealing against leakage of the liquid medium. In other embodiments the closing of at least one aperture can be opened to allow for gas exchange without using a membrane.

In further embodiments, the at least one aperture and/or the closing of the at least one aperture comprises a valve, either for unidirectional in- flow or out-flow of fluids such as liquids or gases or both, or bi-directional flow of fluids. Optionally more apertures and/or closings provide valves in any desired combination. The valves can be pressure-sensitive, or a modulating valve, and may be activated by mechanical means, electromechanical means, or magnetically, or by any appropriate means conventionally known. In further embodiments, at least one closing comprises at least one aperture being either centric or eccentric. These apertures may also comprise closings that can be reversibly opened or closed, for example screw caps, or valves, or the like, or any combination thereof. The closings used for any aperture can also comprise rotating joints or swivel couplings, optionally with valves, for example to connect a tube or tubing to the aforesaid apertures.

The vessel can be made from one part, or from multiple parts, optionally with modular parts that can be joined together. For example, in one embodiment the body of the vessel is a cylindrical tube and the ends are caps that fit to the cylindrical tube and are connected without leakage of the liquid media. In specific embodiments, gaskets are used to assure appropriate sealing. In other embodiments, the parts are welded or bonded together by any conventionally known method. In more preferred specific embodiments, at least one of the caps can be joined and removed reversibly. Figure 2 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a vessel 100 with a reversibly removable cap 110. Substrates

The vessel of the present invention comprises at least one single mould substrate for increasing the available surface for cell growth and media exchange. The single mold substrate is a non-particulate component, typically made of one part, and can be made from any of the materials as further described herein. It can have a geometry selected from one of plate, round slice, discoid, cubic, cylindrical, tube-like, spherical, y-like and star-shaped geometry. Also, the single mould substrate may be planar in at least one plane, i.e. at one of its surfaces. The single mould substrate can be substantially of the same net shape of the culture vessel but of smaller dimension that allows the substrate to fit into said vessel, or to fit into a compartment of the vessel, or to fit into a compartment of a convection means as described herein. Furthermore, the single mould substrate may comprise at least one opening that partially or completely penetrates the mold, thereby generating at least one cavity or hole in the mould enabling in- flow or flowing through of fluids.

Other preferred embodiments comprise a vessel with at least one compartment and a rinsing system consisting of at least one blade. In these embodiments it is preferred to provide a surface increasing substrate within the compartments or at least one compartments of a plurality of compartments. The preferred substrates are made out of a single mold. The single mold preferably comprises geometry of a cube, cylinder or ball or tube, but any other geometry can be selected. Most preferably, the substrate comprises a rotational-symmetric shape. In specifically preferred embodiments, the substrate is planar at least in one plane. In

others, the planar substrate is arcuated, most preferred used with cylindrical vessels, whereby the arcuated substrate is similar to the curvature of the cylindrical vessel. Other suitable geometries are radiating or star-shaped geometries in the cross-section or at least any other plane. Preferably, the substrate comprises a structure with at least one opening that partially or completely penetrates the mold. In other embodiments the substrate is hollow, comprising at least one cavity. In some embodiments substrate may have an opening, and the opening is an aperture of an cavity. The cavity can be tubular or of any other geometric shape. Most preferably, a substrate comprises at least one single tube or tube-like structure or capillary or a plurality of tube or tube-like structures or capillaries, interconnected or not, or a tubular or capillary system. An excavated tube or capillary or plurality of excavated tubes or capillaries can be oriented rectangular, parallel or in any three-dimensional orientation within the substrate. The cross-section of the cavity or a tube or capillary can be circular, ellipsoid, hexagonal, pentagonal, irregular or regular, pseudo random like or random-like, with individually different dimensions, with alternating dimensions or different diameters. Most preferably at least one cavity is provided that allows the in- flow or out-flow or through-flow of a fluid, fluid mixture, component of a fluid or fluid mixture or any combination thereof, hereinafter referred to as a flow-channel. Other suitable geometries include, but are not limited to, discs, plates, lattices or meshes or a helically winded spiral. It is in some embodiments suitable to implement more than one surface increasing substrate or a plurality of substrate molds.

Preferably, in one embodiment the substrate is structured like a cylinder with at least one cavity. Preferably, the cavity goes through the mould body connecting one side of the surface with another side. Most preferred, the cavity comprises a flow-channel for inflow or outflow or through- flow of a fluid, fluid mixture or components or compounds of a fluid or fluid mixture, as shown schematically in cross and longitudinal sections in figure 29.

The flow-channel can be centric or eccentric, linear or non-linear. Suitable configurations of single flow-channel include serpentines, helically winded channels or pseudo-random or random configurations and the like. It is also suitable to combine a

plurality of flow-channels, for example a plurality of parallel channels, of intersecting channels, cross-flow channels and the like. The flow-channel cavities may be connected or not. Preferably, the cross-sectional plane comprises a plurality of parallel flow-channels, or symmetric or asymmetric y-like configurations, or star-shaped configurations or any combination thereof, as schematically illustrated in figure 30. The aforesaid configurations can also be comprised in one plane, but also in different combined three-dimensional planes.

In specific embodiments the substrate comprises a y-like or star-shaped mould, at least in one plane, whereby the mould has at least three parts that intersect at a node, as shown in figure 3 IA.

The parts are formed to lamellas with a linear profile in the cross-section. Optionally, the substrate can also comprise a plurality of lamellas that at least intersect at a node. The node may comprise an cavity or a flow-channel. In another aspect of the present invention any lamella can have a wave-like or undulating shape or profile within its longitudinal direction or rectangular direction or in both directions. More complex substrates comprise lamellas but are in total helically winded or comprise a spiral geometry.

The wave-like configuration can provide one peak, toward any direction, or a plurality of peaks with a serpentine-like form. Preferably, the linking struts comprise at least one peak or one serpentine with two peaks. The orientation of the peaks or serpentines can be varied, e.g. a left-hand oriented peak or right-hand oriented serpentine with a right-hand oriented peak first and a right-hand oriented peak second or vice versa. In some embodiments the modified lamellas are all of the same design, in other embodiments they can have alternating patterns or any different pattern or combination thereof. In further preferred embodiments the lines towards the apex of a peak comprise also peaks or serpentines, either symmetrically or asymmetrically, and in further embodiments at least one lamella or a plurality of lamellas comprise any desired pattern of peaks and/or serpentines. According to one aspect of this embodiment the design is not limited to one peak or one serpentine; it is also possible to embed a plurality of peaks and/or serpentines in any desired combination, whereby also the angles, curvatures and radiuses can be different individually within at least one lamella or a

plurality of lamellas. Peaks and serpentines can also be of angular-shape or varied in any desired geometric combination. Preferably, in some embodiments the lamellas are connected to each other. Combined substrate s comprise a combination of these aforesaid configurations, for example at least two y-like shapes that ore connected to each other, as shown in figures 31B and 31C.

The combined shape can be symmetric or asymmetric, regular or irregular, whereby each individual lamella can have a different geometry.

On specific embodiment comprises a honeycomb like structure as the substrate. The honeycomb configuration can be embodied as a pentagonal, hexagonal, polygonal or tubular or rectangular or any other geometric configuration, preferably a symmetric pattern shown in figure 32.

According to the inventive configuration of a substrate or carrier, the structured design can be tailored to the intended use. In some configurations the flow channels, cavitys or openings are directly connected to an opening or aperture of a separating wall of at least one single compartment, of one blade or blade holder or blade holding system or of the vessel or wall of the vessel or any combination thereof to provide an inflow, outflow or flowing through of a fluid, fluid mixture or component or compound of the fluid or fluid mixture. In these embodiments the configuration of the system can be selected to optimize the flow of the fluid or fluid mixture by tailoring the conduit or flowing cross-section according to the pressure and flow-rate or velocity of the flow and the distribution of the flow or pressure. In these embodiments the fluid or fluid mixture and/or the inner surface of the cavity is free of any cells, cell cultures, organized cell cultures, tissues or organs. In other embodiments the fluid or fluid mixture and/or the inner surface of the cavity comprises any cells, cell cultures, organized cell cultures, tissues or organs or the inner surface is used to grow any cells, cell cultures, organized cell cultures, tissues or organs. The latter system requires a sufficient cross-section to avoid clogging and plugging of the cavity by cells, cell cultures, organized cell cultures, tissues or organs.

The structure of the carrier or substrate can be porous, with ultramicro-porous, micro- porous or meso-porous or macro-porous or combined pores or porosities. A substrate can completely or partially be porous at any section or part or at different sections or parts. Furthermore, a substrate can be completely or partially porous selectively on the inner or outer or both surfaces, or completely throughout the body of the part. The porous substrate can comprise a gradient of different porous layers or sections in any desired geometric or three-dimensional direction. In some preferred embodiments the porous structure is partially or completely a mesh-like porous structure or a lattice, or comprises a mesh-like trabecular, regular or irregular or random or pseudo-random, structure or any combination thereof or the aforesaid porous structures. In other embodiments the substrate comprises a membrane. Convection means / blades

Additionally, the culture vessel comprises a convection means inside the vessel that enables a convection and/or rinsing of a fluid within the vessel. The convection means can include at least one of a magnetic stirring bar, agitator, stirrer, and at least one blade optionally fixed to a blade holder. In one aspect, the convection means comprises at least one blade, which may be connected directly to the vessel,, optionally connected to a blade holder to be inserted into a vessel, or a combination thereof. Such a means is in particular capable to generate convection in a fluid in case the fluid and/or vessel and/or the blade(s) are agitated. A blade is designed to take up the liquid medium similar to a bucket wheel, particularly if the volume of the vessel is not completely filled with liquid medium, and/or to induce convection within the liquid phase during the agitation of the vessel and/or fluid. Preferably, the convection means located within the vessel comprises one blade, still more preferably comprises two blades, or more than two blades.

Blades 120 can have a parallel orientation towards the longitudinal axis of the vessel 100, i.e. 90° rectangular to the cross-sectional plane; examples for suitable blade orientations are shown in figures 3, 4 and 6.

The blades can also have any different angles towards the rectangular or the longitudinal plane or both, preferably 0.1° to 179°, more preferred 2° to 140°, most preferred 40° to 110°.

Furthermore, the blades can be completely connected to the inner vessel wall or only partially. In specific embodiments, at least one blade is fixed to a blade holder as defined below, in other embodiments at least one blade is only partially fixed to a blade holder as defined below, or movable. In any dimensional plane, a plurality of blades 120 can intersect at least one blade or another plurality of blades to provide a network structure, as illustrated for instance in figure 5.

The angle of intersections can be varied, and according to a plurality of blades intersecting another any individual variation can be realized. In specific embodiments, one plurality of non- intersecting, parallel blades that are parallel to the cross-sectional plane, intersect at least one blade or a plurality of blades that are not parallel to the cross-sectional plane. Furthermore, a single blade or a plurality of blades, either intersecting or not, can be designed to have individually different angles either in the rectangular or longitudinal plane or in any other plane or any combination thereof.

A single blade can have the length of the complete vessel body or a shorter length; in further embodiments at least one blade is partially or completely discontinuous. Furthermore, the position of a single blade or a plurality of blades 120 can be at any suitable point or section or place within the inner vessel wall, as e.g. shown in figure 6. Hence, in specific embodiments a plurality of blades is completely or partially discontinuous. The design of blades can be symmetric or asymmetric, depending on the intended and desired convection and/or rinsing or flow of fluids or fluid mixtures within in the vessel.

In further specific embodiments a blade or a plurality of blades 120 is helically wound along the inner vessel wall in any appropriate angle and direction, as shown in figure 7.

Furthermore, specific embodiments require a plurality of helically winded blades, either in parallel or anti-parallel orientation or in any combination thereof, or in any non-parallel orientation, with or without intersecting a single blade or a plurality of blades. A single blade

or a plurality of blades can fill the complete section of the inner vessel across the circumference or only specific sections, partially or completely or in any combination thereof as shown in figures 8 and 9.

In another aspect of the present invention any blade 120 can have a wave-like or undulating shape within its longitudinal direction or rectangular direction or in both directions, as shown in figure 10.

The wave can provide one peak as shown in Fig. 10, right drawing, toward any direction, or a plurality of peaks with a serpentine-like form. Preferably, the linking struts comprise at least one peak or one serpentine with two peaks. The orientation of the peaks or serpentines can be varied, e.g. a left-hand oriented peak or right-hand oriented serpentine with a right-hand oriented peak first and a right-hand oriented peak second or vice versa. In some embodiments the modified blades are all of the same design, in other embodiments they can have alternating patterns or any different pattern or combination thereof. In further preferred embodiments the lines towards the apex of a peak comprise also peaks or serpentines, either symmetrically or asymmetrically, and in further embodiments at least one blade or a plurality of blades comprise any desired pattern of peaks and/or serpentines. According to one aspect of this embodiment the design is not limited to one peak or one serpentine; it is also possible to embed a plurality of peaks and/or serpentines in any desired combination, whereby also the angles, curvatures and radiuses can be different individually within at least one blade or a plurality of blades. Peaks and serpentines can also be of angular-shape or varied in any desired geometric combination.

Preferably the blade can be of angular cross-sectional geometry, the edges being rounded or not, but also specifically preferred are non-angular geometries. The geometry can be identical over the complete run or profile of a single blade, or different at any specific section or different at multiple sections. A plurality of blades can also comprise blades with different cross-sectional geometries.

The thickness of a blade is depending of the material and mechanical characteristics of the material, but preferably the thickness is selected appropriately to allow a fixed position or,

if elastic movement is desired, to allow sufficient elastic movement. Preferably the blade(s) has/have a thickness in the range of 0.0001 mm to 1,200 cm, more preferably in the range of 0.01 mm to 10 cm, yet more preferably from 0.1 mm to 5 cm and still yet more preferably from 1 mm to 1 cm.

In other embodiments, a single blade 120 or a plurality of blades has a connection that allows movement at least in one direction, preferably in any three-dimensional direction or in more than one three-dimensional direction. Preferably the blade provides a joint. The joint 140 can be fixed to the blade holder 130 as defined below, and preferably provides a nodular end that is inserted into an appropriate cavity of the blade and allows movement, as shown in figures 11 and 12 (cross sections on the left). Any other suitable joint or connection 140 to the blade holder 120 conventionally known may be realized to allow the aforesaid movement. Preferably, movement of the blade 120 occurs during the agitation of the fluid and/or vessel or blade holder by flowing and rinsing the liquid medium (passive moving). In other embodiments, the blade can be moved actively, for example by embedding a motor device and an axis that is connected to the blade. In these embodiments the axis should be preferably sealed appropriately to avoid leakage.

According to one aspect of the invention, a single blade or a plurality of blades can have more than one connection that allows movement in one or more than one three-dimensional direction or any combination thereof and specifically preferred, with discontinuous blades.

In specific embodiments it is further preferred to have non-angular geometries of blades or plurality of blades. Suitable geometries are - in a cross-sectional view - semicircular geometries of any desired radius and dimension (see above), curvature, regularity or irregularity. According to the design of blades, a single blade or a plurality of blades can also have different radiuses, dimensions, curvatures or any combination thereof at different sections.

In particular preferred are regular semi-circular geometries, or ladle-like geometries. In further embodiments blades are configured to hemispheric bowls that provide ladle-like surfaces. In some specific embodiments a blade or plurality of blades is cross-sectional closed

towards a circle, i.e. the geometry of a tube or tube-like form. This embodiment is most preferred with discontinuous blades. The tubes can have different dimensions, sometimes it is preferred to have a capillary size, also at different sections.

Moreover it can be preferred that the blades as defined above comprise at least one tube-like hole, in particular a tube. More preferably the blades comprise more than one tube or tube-like or capillary form, hence a plurality of them. Preferably, the plurality of tubes, tube- like or capillary forms are of the same dimension and geometry, but in further embodiments they are different. Within a blade providing at least two tubes or tube-like or capillary forms there can be interconnected, i.e. it exits at least one connection between the at least two tubes or tube-like or capillary forms. The tubes, tube-like or capillary configuration of a blade are designed to allow the uptake and/or through- flow of a fluid, i.e. the liquid medium or a gas or a gas mixture or any combination thereof, preferably during the agitation of the vessel or the inventive use of the vessel. Hence, the connection between the tubes, tube-like or capillary forms allows the through-flow of the aforesaid fluid. According to the present invention there can be also a plurality of blades with aforesaid tubes, tube-like or capillary design in any combination.

In further embodiments, a tube or tube-like or capillary blade can have a more complex design. For example, in preferred embodiments, the tube or tube-like or capillary form comprises at least another tube, tube-like or capillary form. The so constituted plurality of tubes or capillary can be arranged concentrically or eccentrically within each other or inside as a parallel oriented plurality or as a combination thereof, whether interconnected or not, of same or different geometry, size, diameter and so forth.

The aforesaid described blades or pluralities of blades, independent of the geometry and orientation within the vessel, but particularly non-tubular or non-capillary designs of blades, can be hollow or comprise inside at least one tubular or any other cavity. Most preferably, a blade comprises a single capillary or a plurality of capillaries, interconnected or not, or a capillary system. An excavated tube or capillary or plurality of excavated tubes or capillaries

can be oriented rectangular, parallel or in any three-dimensional orientation towards the vessel's longitudinal axis and/or towards each other's longitudinal axis.

In further embodiments, at least one blade has at least one aperture at the basis that is oriented toward the vessel wall, optionally directly connected to the vessel wall or blade holder. The aperture can have a closing as described earlier above, preferably a connection toward at least one different compartment inside the inventive vessel or outside of the vessel. Most preferably, the aperture is directly connected to at least one excavated capillary or tube within the aforesaid blade. Different apertures can be connected to different single or multiple compartments inside or outside of the inventive vessel or any combination thereof. The excavated blade, preferably with at least one tube or capillary or capillary system, is designed to provide or take up or release a fluid or fluid mixture, like a gas or gas mixture, or a liquid or a liquid mixture or any combination thereof, that is either identical or different to the fluids or a part of the fluid comprised within the vessel, within at least one compartment of the vessel or at least one compartment outside of the inventive vessel or any combination thereof.

According to another aspect of the present invention the blade or plurality of blades can be perforated or comprise at least one tube-like hole 150, i.e. opening, or a plurality of tube- like holes, i.e. openings, as shown in figures 13 and 14.

The perforation or tube-like hole, i.e. opening, connects the upper surface of a blade with the lower surface of the blade. The openings can have a round shape, ellipsoid shape, rectangular shape or any other regular or irregular geometry or any combination thereof.

In further embodiments at least one opening, i.e. aperture, connects the surface of a blade with its cavity, excavated tube, or capillary or capillary system, or any combination thereof, as shown in figure 14. The openings, i.e. aperture, allow taking up, rinsing or releasing a fluid or a fluid mixture or any combination thereof.

The holes may furthermore connect at least two different compartments or sectors 160, 165, within or outside or between inside and outside of the inventive vessel, as shown in figure 15. In specific embodiments at least one hole or aperture can be closed with a closing as described earlier above, preferably with a valve.

The holes and/or openings may have an average diameter in the range of 0.5 to 100,000 μm, more preferably from 1 to 10,000 μm, still more preferred from 1,000 to 5,000 μm and yet more preferred from 10 to 100 μm.

In case of a capillary system said system has preferably a volume in the range of 1 μl to 500 L, more preferably from 10 μl to 10 L, still more preferred from 10 μl to 1 L, yet more preferred from 1,000 μl to 1 L.

A plurality of blades can be connected together at any section or part of a single blade. Preferably, blades are connected directly to the inner vessel wall, but in some preferred embodiments, the blades are connected to a blade holder that is located with the vessel. It has to be noted that some information described herein concerning figures showing vessels with blades may also apply to blade holders for insertion into vessels alone, since the structures can be similar, only the functions being different.

Convection means having a blade holder

A blade holder is in particular characterized by the aspects of

(a) being located within the vessel,

(b) being not part of the vessel,

(c) being not a joint or connection between the vessel and the blade(s),

(d) optionally holding the blade(s) substantially in a predefined position from the inner surface of the vessel.

Blades connected to a blade holder can be oriented toward the outer surface or inner surface or both surface of the blade holder. The blade holder can be directly connected to the inner vessel wall, e.g. by clamping it into the vessel, or be without a direct connection to the inner vessel wall, and the connection can be fixed or not fixed. Preferably, the vessel comprises a cylindrical body so that the blade holder has also basically a cylindrical shape, for example a cylinder or ring that can be used within the inventive vessel. Preferably the blade holder has substantially the same shape as the vessel but of smaller dimension. Or in other words, the blade holder has the same net shape of the vessel wherein the blade holder is used,

for example, if the inventive vessel is of regular spherical shape then the blade holder also comprises the same spherical shape of a size that fits into the inventive vessel.

It is preferred in some embodiments that the blade holder is a round slice or cylinder and has a diameter in the range of 1.99 to 99.9 cm. Moreover its is preferred that such a blade holder has a length in the range of 1.99 to 319 cm.

A blade holder can be made of a single part or out of multiple parts. Such a blade holder 130 at least comprises one blade 120, more preferably at least 2, 3 or 4 blades as shown in figures 16 to 18 and 20.

The blade holder can longitudinally fill the complete vessel or parts or sections of the vessel. Furthermore, the blade holder can circumferentially fill substantially completely or partially the circumference or parts of the circumference of the vessel. A single blade or plurality of blades can be connected to more than one blade holder. The connection between a single or a plurality of blade holders 130 and plurality of blades 120 comprises a blade holder system as shown in figure 19. The inventive vessel can comprise more than one blade holder system, preferably a plurality of different blade holders. The blade holder can comprise itself a plane cross-sectional or longitudinal geometry or any different regular or irregular geometry at any part, area or section in any three-dimensional direction. Preferably, the cross-sectional profile of the blade holder is undulating or providing wave-like structures with peaks and, more preferably, valleys or slots. In one aspect of the present invention, the geometric structure of at least one blade holder comprises a plurality of regularly or irregularly patterned slots or cavities. Like the blades themselves, the at least one blade holder can comprise perforations or at least one opening, i.e. aperture, or a plurality of openings, i.e. aperture. The perforation or opening, i.e. aperture, connects the inner surface of the blade holder with the outer surface of the blade holder. The openings, i.e. apertures, can have a round shape, ellipsoid shape, rectangular shape or any other regular or irregular geometry or any combination thereof. In further embodiments at least one opening, i.e. aperture, connects the outer surface of a blade holder with a cavity, excavated tube, or capillary or capillary system of at least one blade or any combination thereof. The openings, i.e. apertures, allow taking up,

rinsing or releasing a fluid or a fluid mixture or any combination thereof. The openings, i.e. apertures, furthermore connect at least two different compartments within or outside or between inside and outside of the inventive vessel. In specific embodiments at least one opening, i.e. aperture, can be closed with a closing as described earlier above, preferably with a valve.

In other preferred embodiments the blade holder comprises at least one hole, i.e. tube or tube-like or capillary form, hence a plurality of them in any combination thereof. Preferably, the plurality of holes, i.e. tubes, tube-like or capillary forms are of the same dimension and geometry, but in further embodiments they are different. Within a blade holder providing at least two holes, i.e. tubes or tube-like or capillary forms there can be at least one connection between the at least two tubes or tube-like or capillary forms. The holes, i.e. tubes, tube-like or capillary configuration of a blade are designed to allow the uptake and/or through- flow of a fluid, i.e. the liquid medium or a gas or a gas mixture or any combination thereof, during the agitation of the vessel or the inventive use of the vessel. Hence, the connection between the holes, tubes, tube-like or capillary forms allows the through-flow of the aforesaid fluid. According to the present invention there can be also a plurality of blade holders with aforesaid holes, i.e. tubes, tube-like or capillary design in any combination.

In further embodiments, a tube or tube-like or capillary blade holder can have a more complex design. For example, in preferred embodiments, the tube or tube-like or capillary form comprises at least another tube, tube-like or capillary form. The so constituted plurality of tubes or capillary can be arranged concentrically or eccentrically within each other or inside as a parallel oriented plurality or any combination thereof, whether interconnected or not, of same or different geometry, size, diameter, and so forth.

The aforesaid described blade holder or plurality of blade holders, independent of the geometry and orientation within the vessel, but particularly non-tubular or non-capillary designs of blade holders, can be hollow or comprise inside at least one tubular or any other cavity. Most preferably, a blade holder comprises a single capillary or a plurality of capillaries, interconnected or not, or a capillary system. An excavated tube or capillary or

plurality of excavated tubes or capillaries can be oriented rectangular, parallel or in any three- dimensional orientation towards the vessel's longitudinal axis and/or towards each other's longitudinal axis.

In further embodiments, at least one blade holder has at least one aperture that is oriented toward the vessel wall, or at least one connected blade or both, optionally directly connected, see e.g. figure 21 for a roller bottle 170 including a convection means 130/120. The aperture can have a closing as described earlier above, preferably a connection toward at least one different compartment inside the inventive vessel or outside of the vessel or to a blade or excavated part of a blade or any combination thereof.

Most preferably, the aperture is directly connected to at least one excavated capillary or tube within at least one blade. Different apertures can be connected to different single or multiple compartments inside or outside of the inventive vessel or inside or outside of a single or multiple compartments of at least one blade or any combination thereof. The excavated blade holder, preferably with at least one tube or capillary or capillary system, is designed to provide or take up or release a fluid or fluid mixture, like a gas or gas mixture, or a liquid or a liquid mixture or any combination thereof, that is either identical or different to the fluids or a part of the fluid comprised within the vessel, within at least one compartment of the vessel or at least one compartment outside of the vessel or any combination thereof.

At least a part of at least one of the convection means, the blade holder or a blade is made of a porous material, with ultramicro-porous, micro-porous or meso-porous or macro- porous or combined pores or porosities. These can be completely or partially porous at any section or part or at different sections or parts. The average pore sizes are preferably in a range of 2 Angstrom up to 1,000 μm, more preferred from 1 nm to 800 μm. Furthermore, these components can be completely or partially porous selectively on the inner or outer or both surfaces, or completely throughout the body of the part. The porous components of the convection means can comprise a gradient of different porous layers or sections in any desired geometric or three-dimensional direction. In some preferred embodiments the porous structure is partially or completely a mesh-like porous structure or a lattice, or comprises a

mesh-like trabecular, regular or irregular or random or pseudo-random, structure or any combination thereof or the aforesaid porous structures, essentially having the same por sizes as mentioned above. In some embodiments a blade, plurality of blades or blade holder can comprise two or more different layers with different designs, for example a first layer 180 with large pores connected to a second layer 190 with a plurality of capillaries or tubular cavities, as shown e.g. in figure 22.

In some embodiments it is preferred to fix a blade holder or a blade holder system by just clamping it inside of the inventive vessel. Clamping can be realized by designing the size of the blade holder or blade holder system that it is self-fixing, sometimes preferably with introducing at least one discontinuous space holder, for example a protrusion like a pin or a flange, or at least one continuous space holder like a flanged ring, either at the outer surface or circumference of the blade holder or blade holding system or at the inner surface of the inventive vessel or both. Any other method conventionally known can be applied. Other suitable methods are bonding or welding of the parts, or screwing.

In other preferred embodiments the blade holder or blade holding system is fixed laterally at least at one point or part or section at the cross-sectional plane. Generally, according to the present invention fixation can be realized like aforesaid, but more preferred the fixation allows centric or eccentric rotation around the longitudinal axis of the blade holder or blade holding system or around any other or a plurality of three-dimensional axis.

In other embodiments it is preferred to fix the blade holder or blade holding system at least one perforation or aperture to at least one corresponding perforation or opening of the inventive vessel, for example by welding or bonding, or more preferred by a conventional connection, like an inlet, valve, hollow screws, tubes or tubing or any combination thereof. The fixation at least at one single point or part can be embedded anywhere at the circumference of the blade holder or blade holder system or at the cross-sectional plane at one or both lateral ends of the blade holder or blade holder system and/or inventive vessel. In other preferred embodiments at least one blade holder or at least one blade holding system or a plurality of both aforesaid are not fixed within the inventive vessel. Most preferred, the

fϊxation is designed to connect at least one aperture and/or opening of the inventive vessel with at least one aperture or opening of the blade holder or blade holding system. In a further aspect this fixation allows the rotation of at least the blade holder or blade holding system. In specific embodiments of the present invention, the rotation is actively enabled by directly or indirectly coupled drive or similar mean known in the art.

In one additional aspect of the present invention, the blade holder or respective blade holding system can have a vessel-like design, preferably a cylindrical body, but not limited to, whereby the cylindrical body has at least one aperture on one lateral end that allows filling in a liquid medium and/or cell suspension, e.g. using a pipette, and a second lateral end that is closed or optionally comprises also at least one aperture. The aperture is preferably centered to the longitudinal axis of the blade holder or blade holding system, but in some preferred embodiments the aperture or respective apertures can be eccentric. The shape of the aperture is most preferably round, but in specific embodiments it can be preferred to have rectangular or any other regular or irregular shape of the aperture. The aperture or respective apertures can be closed and opened reversibly, most preferred by a closing like a screw cap requiring an appropriate thread, for example by comprising a threaded neck. In preferred embodiments the apertures have a neck to take the screw cap, but any other known closing to reversibly close or open the aperture can be used. In some embodiments the vessel is narrowed toward the aperture or the respective neck comprising the aperture, in other embodiments both lateral ends are narrowed. In some specific embodiments the aperture is not embedded into the lateral ends, but preferably at the central body. In further preferred embodiments more than one aperture is comprised at the vessel body, optionally any combination of at least one lateral aperture and at least one aperture at the body of the vessel.

In preferred embodiments, the closing of at least one aperture comprises a membrane for gas exchange as known in the art with appropriate sealing against leakage of the liquid medium. In other preferred embodiments, the closing of at least one aperture can be opened to allow for gas exchange without using a membrane.

In further specifically preferred aspects at least one of the closings comprises a valve, either for unidirectional in- flow or out-flow of fluids like liquids or gases or both, or bidirectional flow of fluids. Optionally more closings provide valves in any desired combination. The valves can be pressure-sensitive, or a modulating valve, can be activated by mechanical means, electromechanical means or magnetically or by any appropriate mean known in the art. In further preferred embodiments at least one used closing comprises an aperture, either centric or eccentric, or optionally more than one aperture. These apertures also comprise closings that can be reversibly opened or closed, for example screw caps or valves or the like or any combination thereof. The closings used, for any aperture, can also comprise rotating joints or swivel couplings, optionally with valves, for example to connect a tube or tubing to the aforesaid apertures.

In one further aspect of the invention the inventive blade holder or blade holding system is used with an inventive vessel comprising directly connected blades or pluralities of blades. Preferably, the directly connected blades are located in a specific circumferential section of the vessel and the blade holder or blade holding system is located side by side to the section with directly connected blades. In some embodiments more than one section of the vessel comprises directly connected blades and one or a plurality of blade holders or blade holding systems is introduced additionally, either in an alternating pattern or in any different regular or irregular pattern. In other embodiments, at least one blade holder is nested into a vessel comprising at least one directly connected blade or a plurality of directly connected blades. In further embodiments any combination of the aforesaid design is embedded. In further embodiments, the nested blade holder or blade holding system comprise at least one or more additionally nested blade holder or blade holding system into the foregoing.

In specific embodiments the vessel provides a cross-sectional blade pattern like a cogwheel as shown in figure 23D, either with a screw-like or helically run or not, and the inserted blade holder or blade holding system comprises at the outer circumferential surface blades also with a corresponding cross-sectional pattern like a cogwheel, either with a screw- like or helically run or not, as shown in figure 23 A-D. In more specific embodiments, the

blade holder comprises at the inner circumferential surface a cross-sectional blade pattern like a cogwheel, either with a screw-like or helically run or not, as shown in figure 23C. In embodiments, where the vessel comprises a cross-sectional blade pattern like a cogwheel, specific embodiments of the blade holder or blade holding system comprise on both the outer and inner circumferential surface blades also with a corresponding cross-sectional pattern like a cogwheel, as shown in figure 23B. An on both circumferential surfaces cogwheel patterned blade holder or blade holding system can be used to nest further cogwheel patterned blade holders or blade holding systems inside and so forth.

The nested blade holders or blade holding systems can be nested into the vessel or in each other centrically or eccentrically or in any combination. Cogwheel-like blade design and different blade designs or blade holder or blade holding system designs can be implemented in any combination within the same vessel. The cogwheel-like design is specifically preferred in a cultivation system where the agitation of the culture is partially or mainly carried out by rotating the vessel or at least one blade holder or blade holding system or any combination thereof. The number and distances of cogwheel- like blades or the pattern design allows tailoring the transmission of the rotation and respective rotation speed to the desired conditions. Fillers

The cultivation vessel may optionally comprise at least one particulate filler, in at least one of the compartments/sectors of the vessel or the convection means, or even in the cavities therein. Such fillers comprise materials that increase the overall surface area of the cultivation system available for adherent cell growth, increase the surface area for equilibrium or exchange of fluids or fluid mixtures, and may include absorbents for absorbing fluids, fluid mixtures or a component or compound of a fluid or fluid mixture, or may include materials that provide a nutritional compound or a plurality of nutritional compounds or selectively adsorbs or desorbs physiologically or biologically active agents.

Preferably the surface of the interior of the vessel is increased by the fillers by a factor of 1.1 to 20 ^• 10 ¹⁰ , more preferably of 1.2 to 6 ^• 10 ¹⁰ and yet more preferably of 2.0 to 5 ^• 10 ⁵ .

Known fillers that increase the surface for adherent cell growth are micro- or macrocarriers, spherical particles, usually made out of cellulose, dextrane, gelatine, polystyrol, alginate, glass, carbon, ceramics or other organic, preferably polymeric materials, and the like, either chemically or biologically modified or not. Suitable commercially available fillers are for example Cytodex®, Cytopore®, Cultisphere®, Microhex®. Known drawbacks of such like fillers are that they are designed to float in suspensions that are agitated in stirred tank systems or spinner systems, typically with actively controlled bioreactors. For conventional roller bottles their usability is significantly limited, particularly because the agitation by simple rotation is insufficient to provide appropriate convection, aeration or gas exchange within the liquid phase, and moreover, rigid particle materials induce mechanical destruction of cells that are attached at the vessel wall. Another significant issue is that the presence of fillers like the previously named ones will only potentially increase the surface for adherent cell growth, a feature that is not useful for cells in suspension Furthermore, previously named fillers do not comprise any function to align nutritional conditions. As explained previously, sufficient growth requires not only increase of effectively available surfaces but in parallel of increasing the nutritional conditions such like oxygenation, equilibrium OfCO ₂ and buffering and so forth.

According to the present invention all suitable materials that increase the surface area for adherent cell growth, so called substrates or carriers, can be incorporated and beneficially utilized as fillers. The discrete particles useful as substrates or carriers are provided with one compartment of the vessel, preferably in a vessel with two compartments. Optionally the carriers are provided in multiple compartments of the vessel with at least one compartment being free of a carrier material, as indicated in figure 27A. Most preferred are embodiments, whereby the compartments of a blade holding system are filled with those particles. The principal advantage of this embodiment is that the particles are filled to a substantially dense homogeneous packing without significant floating of the particles and without causing adverse shear stress, but optimally are exposed to the liquid medium and the gas phase or a beneficial fluid, fluid mixture or component or compound thereof, as shown in figure 27B.

Moreover, this embodiment with densely packed particles for adherent cell growth comprises a very high surface area for optimal contact between the carrier phase, the gas phase and the liquid medium phase.

The configuration of the vessel and the blades and respective blade holding system is such like that at least two of the compartments are connected to each other and allow the exchange of at least the cultivation medium, preferably also of the gas phases, or any other component or compound of the used fluid or fluid mixture or any combination thereof. At least one separating wall or one part of the blade being part of the compartment or sector with the packed carrier particles comprises the rinsing function. Embodiments with higher performance comprise a plurality of compartments filled with carriers, either inner compartments or outer compartments of the vessel, and continuously rinse the liquid and/or provide the exchange of a fluid, fluid mixture or component or compound of a fluid. Usually, in conventional use the carrier volume used conventionally is due to the aforesaid shortcomings limited to approximately 5-8% of the liquid culture volume. The inventive embodiment allows increasing the carrier volume up to 90%.

In specific embodiments the substrate or carrier mold is also a blade, blade holder or blade holding system or a plurality of the foregoing.

The structure of the filler/carrier can be porous, with ultramicro-porous, micro-porous or meso-porous or macro-porous or combined pores or porosities. The porous carrier or filler particles can comprise a gradient of different porous layers or sections in any desired geometric or three-dimensional direction. In some preferred embodiments the porous structure is partially or completely a mesh-like porous structure or a lattice, or comprises a mesh-like trabecular, regular or irregular or random or pseudo-random, structure or any combination thereof or the aforesaid porous structures.

Functionalized fillers and substrates

Other fillers are fore example ion exchangers, those for binding positively charged ions or cations, which display on their surface negatively charged groups; and those for binding negatively charged ions or anions, which display on their surface positively charged groups.

The ion exchanger can be composed of the solid support material, a liquid or gel, or any combination thereof, like for example a hydrogel or polymer composed for easily hydrated groups like cellulose consisting of polymers of sugar molecules. These materials consist of polymeric matrixes to which are attached functional groups. The chemistry of the matrix structure is polystyrenic, polyacrylic or phenol-formaldehyde, but not limited to. The functional groups are numerous, for example, but not limited to: sulfonic, carboxylic acids, quaternary, tertiary and secondary ammonium, chelating (thiol, iminodiacetic, aminophosphonic and the like). The various types of matrices and their degree of crosslinking translate into different selectivity for given species and into different mechanical and osmotic stability. Many resins and adsorbents can be obtained with a narrow particle size distribution for optimum hydrodynamic and kinetics properties. Ion exchange resins are also characterized by their operating capacities function of the process conditions. Ion exchange resins are mostly available in a moist beads form (granular or powdered forms are also sometime used, dry form is also available for applications in a solvent media) with a particle size distribution typically ranging 0.3 - 1.2 mm (16 - 50 mesh) with a gel or macroporous structure. Ion exchangers can preferably be used as single or combined moulds made out of one single or multiple parts. In specifically preferred embodiment, the ion exchanger comprises at least one blade or a blade holder or a blade holding system a plurality of blades or blade holders or blade holding systems. In other embodiments the ion exchanger comprises a micro- or macro- carrier, structured filler or substrate mold. In further embodiments the ion exchanger comprises both, i.e. a combination of at least one blade or blade holder or a blade holding system combined with a filler or substrate mold.

Further useful fillers are absorbents to absorb at least one compound of the culture, of at least one fluid, fluid mixture or component of a fluid mixture or a combination thereof. Suitable absorbers, for example, are used to absorb proteins. For protein absorption Diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) or Carboxymethyl (CM) absorbers are appropriate. Since proteins are charged molecules, proteins in the cultivation system will interact with the absorber depending on the distribution of charged molecules on the surface of the protein, displacing

mobile counter ions that are bound to the resin. The way that a protein interacts with the absorber material depends on its overall charge and on the distribution of that charge over the protein surface. The net charge on a given protein will depend on the composition of amino acids in the protein and on the pH of the fluid. The charge distribution will depend on how the charges are distributed on the folded protein. A person skilled in the art will easily determine the appropriate absorber or combination of absorbers and/or the pH of the fluid depending on the protein's isoelectric point for adjusting the absorption properties and function.

Other useful absorbers are gas absorbing materials, preferably for absorption Of CO ₂ , oxygen, N ₂ , NO, NO ₂ , N ₂ O, and SO ₂ . beside absorbents known in the art, further useful absorbents could be selected from materials that comprise imidazolium, quaternary ammonium, pyrrolidinium, pyridinium, or tetra alkylphosphonium as the base for the cation, whereby possible anions include hexafluorophosphate [PF ₆ ]-, tetrafluoroborate [BF ₄ ]-, bis(trifiuoromethylsulfonyl) imide [(CF ₃ SO ₂ ) ₂ N]-, triflate [CF ₃ SO ₃ ]-, acetate [CH ₃ CO ₂ ]-, trifluoroacetate [CF ₃ CO ₂ ]-, nitrate [NO ₃ ]-, chloride [Cl]-, bromide [Br]-, or iodide [I]-, among many others. Any combination of a absorbing material can be selected with regard to the solubility of the relevant gas. Preferred absorbers allow a chemical interaction between the selected gas or gas mixture to be absorbed or a physical interaction, like the solution in an appropriate solvent. Suitable absorbers are also activated carbon or activated carbon-like materials, chelating agents such as penicillamine, methylene tetramine dihydrochloride, EDTA, DMSA or deferoxamine mesylate and the like.

The absorber can be provided as a liquid solution, gel, solid or any combination thereof. The solid can be composed of particles or a structured mold or any combination thereof.

In preferred embodiments, the absorber is embedded at least in one compartment of the vessel or a blade or a blade holder or a blade holding system or any combination thereof.

In other embodiments the absorber comprises also a filler or substrate mold, or an ion exchanger or any combination thereof.

Further beneficial fillers and/or the substrate mold used in the present invention comprise and/or have incorporated and/or are capable to release beneficial agents. Beneficial

agents can be selected from biologically active agents, pharmacological active agents, therapeutically active agents, diagnostic agents or absorptive agents or any mixture thereof. Beneficial agents can be incorporated partially or completely into at least one compartment or a plurality of compartments or cavity or plurality of cavities of the vessel, a blade, a blade holder, a blade holding system, filler, the substrate mould, ion exchanger, absorber or any combination thereof. Biologically, therapeutically or pharmaceutically active agents according to the invention may be a drug, pro-drug or even a targeting group or a drug comprising a targeting group. The active agents may be in crystalline, polymorphous or amorphous form or any combination thereof in order to be used in the present invention. Suitable therapeutically active agents may be selected from the group of enzyme inhibitors, hormones, cytokines, growth factors, receptor ligands, antibodies, antigens, ion binding agents like crown ethers and chelating compounds, substantial complementary nucleic acids, nucleic acid binding proteins including transcriptions factors, toxines and the like. Examples of therapeutically active agents are mentioned in WO 2006/069677, particularly on pages 36 to 44.

Suitable signal generating agents are materials which in physical, chemical and/or biological measurement and verification methods lead to detectable signals, for example in image-producing methods. It is not important for the present invention, whether the signal processing is carried out exclusively for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Typical imaging methods are for example radiographic methods, which are based on ionizing radiation, for example conventional X-ray methods and X-ray based split image methods such as computer tomography, neutron transmission tomography, radio frequency magnetization such as magnetic resonance tomography, further by radionuclide-based methods such as scintigraphy, Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), Positron Emission Computed Tomography (PET), ultrasound-based methods or fluoroscopic methods or luminescence or fluorescence based methods such as Intravasal Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Fluorescence Emission Spectroscopy, Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy,

colorimetry, optical coherence tomography, etc, further Electron Spin Resonance (ESR), Radio Frequency (RF) and Microwave Laser and similar methods.

Signal generating agents and targeting groups can be selected from those as described in WO 2006/069677, particularly on pages 12 - 36.

According to this invention, incorporation of beneficial agents may be comprised by incorporating the aforesaid beneficial agents into at least one cavity or compartment or a plurality of cavities or compartments of the inventive vessel, blade, blade holder, blade holding system, filler, substrate mold, ion exchanger, absorber or any combination thereof. Incorporation may be carried out by any suitable means, preferably by dip-coating, spray coating or the like or infusion of the beneficial agents directly into the aforesaid structures. The beneficial agent may be provided in an appropriate solvent, optionally using additives. The loading of these agents may be carried out under atmospheric, sub-atmospheric pressure or under vacuum. Alternatively, loading may be carried out under high pressure. Incorporation of the beneficial agent may be carried out by applying electrical charge to the implant or exposing at least a portion of the implant to a gaseous material including the gaseous or vapor phase of the solvent in which an agent is dissolved or other gases that have a high degree of solubility in the loading solvent. In preferred embodiments the beneficial agents are provided using carriers that are incorporated into the compartment of the implant. Carriers can be selected from any suitable group of polymers or solvents.

Preferred carriers are polymers like biocompatible polymers, for example. In specific embodiments it can be particularly preferred to select carriers from pH-sensitive polymers, like, for example, however not exclusively: poly(acrylic acid) and derivatives, for example: homopolymers like poly( amino carboxylic acid), poly(acrylic acid), poly(methyl acrylic acid) and their copolymers. This applies likewise for polysaccharides like celluloseacetatephthalate, hydroxylpropylmethylcellulose-phthalate,hydroxypropylmethylc ellulosesuccinate, celluloseacetatetrimellitate and chitosan. In certain embodiments it can be especially preferred to select carriers from temperature sensitive polymers, like for example, however not exclusively: poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-sodium-acrylate-co-n-N-

alkylacrylamide),poly(N-methyl-N-n-propylacrylamide), poly(N-methyl-N- isopropylacrylamide), polyfN-N-propylmethacrylamide), poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide), poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide), poly(N- cyclopropylacrylamide), poly(N-ethylacrylamide), poly(N-ethylmethylacrylamide), poly(N- methyl-N-ethylacrylamide), poly(N-cyclopropylacrylamide). Other polymers suitable to be used as a carrier with thermogel characteristics are hydroxypropylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, ethylhydroxyethylcellulose and pluronics like F- 127, L- 122, L-92, L-81, L-61. Preferred carrier polymers include also, however not exclusively, functionalized styrene, like amino styrene, functionalized dextrane and polyamino acids. Furthermore polyamino acids, (poly-D-amino acids as well as poly-L-amino acids), for example polylysine, and polymers which contain lysine or other suitable amino acids. Other useful polyamino acids are polyglutamic acids, polyaspartic acid, copolymers of lysine and glutamine or aspartic acid, copolymers of lysine with alanine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, serine, tryptophan and/or proline.

In specific embodiments the beneficial agents comprise metal based nano-particles that are selected from ferromagnetic or superparamagnetic metals or metal-alloys, either further modified by coating with silanes or any other suitable polymer or not modified, for interstitial hyperthermia or thermoablation.

In specific embodiments the beneficial agents comprise partially or completely the vessel, a single or plurality of blades, blade holders or blade holding systems, a carrier, a carrier mold, an ion exchanger or an absorber or any combination thereof.

In some most preferred embodiments, at least one beneficial agent comprises the structural body of the filler or substrate mold. Rotatable vessels

The vessel, particularly the preferably cylindrical body, can have a plane wall, in specific embodiments it is preferred to comprise a wall with a regular or irregular pattern of undulating wave-like peaks or cavities. Preferably, the cross-sectional profile or the longitudinal profile or any combination thereof is undulating or providing wave-like

structures with peaks and, more preferably, valleys or slots. In another aspect of the present invention the geometric structure of at least one part or section of the vessel body comprises a plurality of regularly or irregularly patterned slots or cavities.

In further aspects of the present invention the vessel comprises throughout the wall or only at the outer layer of the wall at least at one circumferential part a cogwheel like pattern of cogs. The circumferential design of a cog-pattern allows rotating the vessel around its longitudinal axis by a cogwheel-like roller with an appropriate apparatus. In other embodiments the circumferential section of cog-like wall design is covering the complete vessel surface, as shown in figure 23D. In other specifically preferred embodiments the vessel comprises a plurality of circumferential cogwheel like pattern of cogs with identical or different patterns. Generally, the cylindrical vessel may comprise at least one arrangement of cavities and/or elevations in substantially steady distances and said arrangement is located around the outer surface of the cylindrical vessel in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel. The arrangement of cavities and/or elevations typically extends in longitudinal direction over the whole length, or at least a part of the vessel, and may be one of a wave-like pattern, a cogwheel-like pattern, a screw-like or a helical run, as desired to allow rotation of the vessel, preferably of a plurality of vessels contacting each other as shown in figure 23D. Compartmented vessels

The present invention may optionally comprise at least two compartments or sectors within the vessel, for example sectors 160/165, as shown in figure 24. The compartments can be oriented parallel to the cross-sectional plane of the vessel or longitudinal plane of the vessel or to any other three-dimensional plane. The compartments or sectors can be identically in volume or size, symmetrically or asymmetrically, and one of the compartments may comprise the surface-increasing substrate. The compartments can also be comprised by a vessel design with at least two or more nested geometrically identically shaped but appropriately sized parts that are closed at the ends, such as concentric cylinders. Most preferred are cylindrical bodies or any combination thereof or the foregoing.

Furthermore, it can be preferred to comprise more than two compartments or sectors as shown in figures 20 and 25. The two compartments or at least two compartments of a plurality of compartments can be separated from each other as in figure 20, by the wall allowing fluid communication between the sectors. Each single wall can have at least one aperture that allows filling in a liquid medium and/or cell suspension, e.g. using a pipette. The aperture is preferably centered to the longitudinal axis of the vessel, but in some preferred embodiments the aperture or respective apertures can be eccentric or is located at any optional position within the separating wall. The shape of the aperture is most preferably round, but in specific embodiments it can be preferred to have rectangular or any other regular or irregular shape of the aperture. The aperture or respective apertures can be closed and opened reversibly, most preferred by a closing like a screw cap requiring an appropriate thread, for example by comprising a threaded neck. In preferred embodiments the apertures have a neck to take the screw cap, but any other known closing to reversibly close or open the aperture can be used. In further preferred embodiments more than one aperture is comprised at the separating wall, cf. figure 25.

In preferred embodiments the closing of at least one aperture comprises a membrane for gas exchange as known in the art with appropriate sealing against leakage of the liquid medium. In other preferred embodiments the closing of at least one aperture can be opened to allow for gas exchange without using a membrane.

In further specifically preferred embodiments at least one of the closings comprises a valve, either for unidirectional in- flow or out-flow of fluids like liquids or gases or both, or bidirectional flow of fluids. Optionally more closings provide valves in any desired combination. The valves can be pressure-sensitive, or a modulating valve, can be activated by mechanical means, electromechanical means or magnetically or by any appropriate mean known in the art. In further preferred embodiments at least one used closing comprises an aperture, either centric or eccentric, or optionally more than one aperture. These apertures also comprise closings that can be reversibly opened or closed, for example screw caps or valves or the like or any combination thereof. The closings used, for any aperture, can also comprise

rotating joints or swivel couplings, optionally with valves, for example to connect a tube or tubing to the aforesaid apertures.

In further embodiments at least two apertures of different compartments are connected to each other using tubing or a tube. Preferably, in other embodiments at least one aperture of a separating wall is connected to an aperture or opening of a blade holder or blade holding system or a single blade or a plurality of blades.

In other embodiments at least one separating wall of two compartments or sectors is porous, with ultramicro-porous, micro-porous or meso-porous or macro-porous or combined pores or porosities. A separating wall can completely or partially be porous at any section or part or at different sections or parts. Furthermore, a separating wall or plurality of separating walls can be completely or partially porous selectively on the inner or outer or both surfaces, or completely throughout the body of the part. The porous separating wall can comprise a gradient of different porous layers or sections in any desired geometric or three-dimensional direction. In some preferred embodiments the porous structure is partially or completely a mesh-like porous structure or a lattice, or comprises a mesh-like trabecular, regular or irregular or random or pseudo-random, structure or any combination thereof or the aforesaid porous structures. In further embodiments the separating wall of two compartments comprises a membrane, either completely or partially.

In further embodiments, that are in particular preferred, a blade or a blade holder or a blade holding system or any combination thereof is designed to constitute at least a separating wall and/or a second compartment or a plurality of separating walls and/or compartments.

In specific embodiments, independent of the geometry and size of the vessel, it is preferred to provide a vessel that is hollow or comprises inside of the wall at least one tubular or any other cavity. Most preferably, a vessel wall comprises a single tube and/or capillary or a plurality of tubes and/or capillaries, interconnected or not, or a tubular and/or capillary system. An excavated tube or capillary or plurality of excavated tubes or capillaries can be oriented rectangular, parallel or in any three-dimensional orientation towards the vessel's longitudinal axis and/or towards each other's longitudinal axis.

In further embodiments, the vessel wall has at least one capillary or tube with an aperture that is oriented towards the outer or inner surface of the vessel wall or both, optionally directly connected but not necessarily. The aperture can have a closing as described earlier above, preferably a connection toward at least one different compartment inside the inventive vessel or outside of the vessel or to a compartment or a plurality of compartments, or a blade or excavated part of a blade or any combination thereof. Most preferably, the aperture is directly connected to at least one excavated capillary or tube within at least one blade or compartment. Different apertures can be connected to different single or multiple compartments inside or outside of the inventive vessel or inside or outside of a single or multiple compartments of at least one blade or blade holder or any other combination thereof. The excavated vessel wall, preferably with at least one tube or capillary or capillary system, is designed to provide or take up or release a fluid or fluid mixture, like a gas or gas mixture, or a liquid or a liquid mixture or any combination thereof, that is either identical or different to the fluids or a part of the fluid comprised within the vessel, within at least one compartment of the vessel or at least one compartment outside of the inventive vessel or any combination thereof.

In other embodiments the vessel wall can be porous, with ultramicro-porous, micro- porous or meso-porous or macro-porous or combined pores or porosities having pore sizes as described below. A vessel wall can completely or partially be porous at any section or part or at different sections or parts. Furthermore, a vessel wall can be completely or partially porous selectively on the inner or outer or both surfaces, or completely throughout the body of the part. The porous vessel wall can comprise a gradient of different porous layers or sections in any desired geometric or three-dimensional direction. In some preferred embodiments the porous structure is partially or completely a mesh-like porous structure or a lattice, or comprises a mesh-like trabecular, regular or irregular or random or pseudo-random, structure or any combination thereof or the aforesaid porous structures. In other embodiments the vessel wall comprises either partially or completely a membrane.

The cavity or the interconnected cavities mentioned elsewhere in the instant invention has(have) preferably a volume in the range of at least 0.01 %, preferably 0.01 to 99 %, more preferably in the range 1 to 50 % and yet more preferably in the range 25 to 80 % of the overall vessel volume. The surface area of the interior of the vessel is preferably increased by the blade(s) and optionally by the blade holder by a factor of 0.8 ^• 10 ¹⁰ to 20 ^• 10 ¹⁰ , preferably of 1.2 - 10 ¹⁰ to 6 - 10 ¹⁰ .

Preferably in case of a porous or porous-like material as defined in the instant invention, the vessel wall, the blade(s) and/or the blade holder is comprised at least partially by a macro- porous, meso-porous, micro-porous or ultra-microporous material or any combination thereof, whereby the pore sizes are preferably in a range of 2 Angstrom up to 1,000 μm, more preferred from 1 nm to 800 μm.

Preferably in case of a mesh- like or lattice-like material as defined in the instant invention, the vessel wall, the blade(s) and the blade holder is comprised at least partially by a mesh-like or lattice-like material, whereby the average size between the mesh size is preferably in a range of 2 Angstrom up to 1000 μm, more preferred from 1 nm to 800 μm.

Further exemplary embodiments consist of a cylindrical cultivation vessel with a plurality of longitudinal blades, parallel oriented or not, centrally positioned structured substrate with a plurality of cavities, whereby the aforesaid cavities form a plurality of flow- channels, and two removable closures, as shown in figure 33.

In specifically preferred further embodiments the culture vessel comprises a blade holder for fixation of a blade comprising a plurality of cavities, whereby the aforesaid cavities form a plurality of flow-channels, and two removable closures, as shown in figure 34.

Another specifically preferred embodiment is shown in figure 28, and comprises a vessel 100 with a cap 110, either with or without gas exchange membrane, that consists of three compartments. In one configuration the first compartment , i.e. the outer compartment, is free of any filler, whereas the second compartment 210 comprises the surface increasing substrate, e.g. a honeycomb structured component 230. Additionally a third compartment 220 (hereinafter the bottom compartment) contains the convection means, i.e. a magnetic stirrer in

the center of the said compartment. The bottom compartment can be connected by at least one whole to the inner compartment 210 and by at least one, but preferably by two, three or more holes to the outer compartment 200. Another preferred embodiment comprises a reverse configuration, i.e. to insert the substrate 230 into the first, i.e. outer, compartment 200. Modular vessels and systems

In specifically preferred embodiments the vessel comprises a plurality of connected compartments or sectors. In these embodiments, each vessel comprises a design as described above and can be used as a cultivation vessel stand-alone. Optionally, a second vessel can be connected or a plurality of vessels can be connected, as shown in figure 26. The preferred connection is comprised by at least one closing as described above with a rotating joint or swivel coupling, optionally with valves, connected either by a tube or tubing or directly connected to each other. Preferred vessels have a discoid geometry with at least one aperture and connecting closing to each other that is centric to the longitudinal axis of the discs. More specifically, the connection allows to rotate both discoid vessels synchronous or asynchronous, in the same direction or opposite directions, with the same speed or different speeds. Preferred embodiments comprise at least one circumferential section with cogwheel- like cogs at the outer surface of the vessel wall at least of one discoid vessel, but specifically preferred at all vessels. The pattern of the cogwheel design can be identical or different. The preferred agitation of the vessel is then a rotation around the longitudinal axis, whereby at least a single roller with a corresponding design transmits the rotation to the vessel. It could be preferred to drive the connected discoid vessels independently with different speeds and directions or even selectively not to move a single or specific number of discoid vessels. Convection and rinsing system

The function of the convection means or rinsing system is to provide sufficient exchange and supply of medium, medium compounds, fluids and fluid mixtures. Particularly in conventional systems nutritional supply is affected by increasing cell mass and not appropriately addressed by sufficient convection. With the inventive design of the cultivation system it is feasible to provide at any point and compartment of the system sufficient

nutritional compounds, beneficial agents and or fluids or fluid mixtures as well as a high surface area for physiological exchange of compounds, i.e. supply of nutritional compounds and removal of intermediates. The rinsing system is designed to selectively supply fluids or fluid mixtures, preferably medium that can be rinsed by droplet formation in order to increase further the overall surface of the liquid fluids for enhanced gas exchange. By increasing also the overall cross-section of fluid providing compartments the pressure can be reduced below critical values to protect the cells, tissues or tissue-like cell cultures, organs or organ-like cell cultures, multicellular organisms from shear stress or any pressure induced damages. The convection system has the function to optimally distribute the flow of fluids within a single or plurality of compartments through the complete cultivation system. Preferred patterns of convection are unilateral confection, multi-circular convection and spiral convection.

Depending on the blade configuration any desired convection pattern can be realized. Preferred materials

The inventive cultivating system can be manufactured in one seamless part or with seams out of multiple parts. The inventive cultivation system may be manufactured using known manufacturing techniques. A further option is to weld individual sections together. Any other suitable manufacturing process may also be applied and used.

Any part that is used according to the inventive cultivation system, including the fillers and substrates, can be made from a suitable material conventionally used, as desired, e.g. partially or completely made by conventional means of polymers, glass, ceramics, composites, metals, metal alloys or any mixture thereof, e.g. metals and metal alloys selected from main group metals of the periodic system, transition metals such as copper, gold and silver, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, rhenium, iron, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium or platinum, or from rare earth metals. For the vessel, transparent polymeric materials may be sometimes preferred, whereas for the convection means, blades, blade holders, substrates and fillers materials having acceptable properties as a substrate for cell growth may be preferred, particularly biocompatible, optionally even biodegradable materials. The

material can be selected from any suitable metal or metal oxide or shape memory alloys any mixture thereof to provide the structural body of the implant. Preferably, the material is selected from the group of zero-valent metals, metal oxides, metal carbides, metal nitrides, metal oxynitrides, metal carbonitrides, metal oxycarbides, metal oxynitrides, metal oxycarbonitrides and the like, and any mixtures thereof. The metals or metal oxides or alloys used in a preferred embodiment of the present invention may be magnetic. Examples are - without excluding others - iron, cobalt, nickel, manganese and mixtures thereof, for example iron, platinum mixtures or alloys, or for example, magnetic metal oxides like iron oxide and ferrite. It may be preferred to use semi-conducting materials or alloys, for example semiconductors from Groups II to VI, Groups III to V, and Group IV. Suitable Group II to VI semi-conductors are, for example, MgS, MgSe, MgTe, CaS, CaSe, CaTe, SrS, SrSe, SrTe, BaS, BaSe, BaTe, ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe, CdS, CdSe, CdTe, HgS, HgSe, HgTe, or mixtures thereof. Examples for suitable Group III to V semi-conductors are GaAs, GaN, GaP, GaSb, InGaAs, InP, InN, InSb, InAs, AIAs, AIP, AISb, AIS and mixtures thereof. Examples for Group IV semi-conductors are germanium, lead and silicon. The semi-conductors may also comprise mixtures of semi-conductors from more than one group and all the groups mentioned above are included.

In other preferred embodiments the material is made of biodegradable metals which can include, e.g., metals, metal compounds such as metal oxides, carbides, nitrides and mixed forms thereof, or metal alloys, e.g. particles or alloyed particles including alkaline or alkaline earth metals, Fe, Zn or Al, such as Mg, Fe or Zn, and optionally alloyed with or combined with other particles selected from Mn, Co, Ni, Cr, Cu, Cd, Pb, Sn, Th, Zr, Ag, Au, Pd, Pt, Si, Ca, Li, Al, Zn and/or Fe. Also suitable are, e.g., alkaline earth metal oxides or hydroxides such as magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium oxide, and calcium hydroxide or mixtures thereof. In exemplary embodiments, the biodegradable metal-based particles may be selected from biodegradable or biocorrosive metals or alloys based on at least one of magnesium or zinc, or an alloy comprising at least one of Mg, Ca, Fe, Zn, Al, W, Ln, Si, or Y. Furthermore, the implant may be substantially completely or at least partially degradable in-

vivo. Examples for suitable biodegradable alloys comprise e.g. magnesium alloys comprising more than 90 % of Mg, about 4-5 % of Y, and about 1.5-4 % of other rare earth metals such as neodymium and optionally minor amounts of Zr; or biocorrosive alloys comprising as a major component tungsten, rhenium, osmium or molybdenum, for example alloyed with cerium, an actinide, iron, tantalum, platinum, gold, gadolinium, yttrium or scandium.

In further preferred embodiments the material is selected from organic materials. Preferred materials are biocompatible polymers, oligomers,or pre-polymerized forms as well as polymer composites. The polymers used may be thermosets, thermoplastics, synthetic rubbers, extrudable polymers, injection molding polymers, moldable polymers, spinnable, weavable and knittable polymers, oligomers or pre-polymerizes forms and the like or mixtures thereof. In specific embodiments it is useful to select the material from biodegradable organic materials, for example - without excluding others - collagen, albumin, gelatine, hyaluronic acid, starch, cellulose (methylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose-phtalate); furthermore casein, dextrane, polysaccharide, fibrinogen, poly(D,L lactide), poly(D,L-lactide-Co-glycolide), poly(glycolide), poly/hydroxybutylate), poly(alkylcarbonate), poly(orthoester), polyester, poly(hydroxyvaleric acid), polydioxanone, poly(ethylene, terephtalate), poly(maleic acid), poly(tartaric acid), polyanhydride, polyphosphohazene, poly(amino acids), and all of the copolymers and any mixtures thereof

In another specific embodiment the material is based on inorganic composites or organic composites or hybrid inorganic/organic composites. The material can also comprise organic or inorganic micro- or nano-particles or any mixture thereof. Preferably, the particles used in the present invention are selected from the group of zero-valent metals, metal oxides, metal carbides, metal nitrides, metal oxynitrides, metal carbonitrides, metal oxycarbides, metal oxynitrides, metal oxycarbonitrides and the like, and any mixtures thereof. The particles used in a preferred embodiment of the present invention may be magnetic. Examples are - without excluding others - iron, cobalt, nickel, manganese and mixtures thereof, for example iron, platinum mixtures or alloys, or for example, magnetic metal oxides like iron oxide and

ferrite. It may be preferred to use semi-conducting particles, for example semi-conductors from Groups II to VI, Groups III to V, and Group IV. Suitable Group II to VI semiconductors are, for example, MgS, MgSe, MgTe, CaS, CaSe, CaTe, SrS, SrSe, SrTe, BaS, BaSe, BaTe, ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe, CdS, CdSe, CdTe, HgS, HgSe, HgTe, or mixtures thereof. Examples for suitable Group III to V semi-conductors are GaAs, GaN, GaP, GaSb, InGaAs, InP, InN, InSb, InAs, AIAs, AIP, AISb, AIS and mixtures thereof. Examples for Group IV semi-conductors are germanium, lead and silicon.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the materials are selected from polymers, oligomers or pre-polymeric particles. Examples of suitable polymers for use as particles in the present invention are hompopolymers, copolymers, prepolymeric forms and/or oligomers of poly(meth)acrylate, unsaturated polyester, saturated polyester, polyolefϊnes like polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene, alkyd resins, epoxy-polymers or resins, phenoxy polymers or resins, phenol polymers or resins, polyamide, polyimide, polyetherimide, polyamideimide, polyesterimide, polyesteramideimide, polyurethane, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyphenole, polyvinylester, polysilicone, polyacetale, cellulosic acetate, polyvinylchloride, polyvinylacetate, polyvinylalcohol, polysulfone, polyphenylsulfone, polyethersulfone, polyketone, polyetherketone, polybenzimidazole, polybenzoxazole, polybenzthiazole, polyfluorocarbons, polyphenylenether, polyarylate, cyanatoester-polymere, and mixtures of any of the foregoing.

Furthermore, polymer materials may be selected from oligomers or elastomers like polybutadiene, polyisobutylene, polyisoprene, poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene), polyurethanes, polychloroprene, or silicone, and mixtures, copolymers and combinations of any of the foregoing.

In a specific embodiment, the materials are selected from electrically conducting polymers, preferably from saturated or unsaturated polyparaphenylene-vinylene, polyparaphenylene, polyaniline, polythiophene, poly(ethylenedioxythiophene), polydialkylfluorene, polyazine, polyfurane, polypyrrole, polyselenophene, poly-p-phenylene sulfide, polyacetylene, monomers oligomers or polymers thereof or any combinations and

mixtures thereof with other monomers, oligomers or polymers or copolymers made of the above-mentioned monomers. Particularly preferred are monomers, oligomers or polymers including one or several organic, for example, alkyl- or aryl-radicals and the like or inorganic radicals, like for example, silicone or germanium and the like, or any mixtures thereof. Preferred are conductive or semi-conductive polymers having an electrical resistance between 10 ¹² and 10 ¹² Ohm- cm. It may particularly be preferred to select those polymers which comprise complexed metal salts.

In other aspects of the preferred embodiment the materials are selected from biodegradable materials like for example - without excluding others - collagen, albumin, gelatine, hyaluronic acid, starch, cellulose (methylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose-phtalate); furthermore casein, dextrane, polysaccharide, fibrinogen, poly(D,L lactide), poly(D,L-lactide-Co-glycolide), poly(glycolide), poly/hydroxybutylate), poly(alkylcarbonate), poly(orthoester), polyester, poly(hydroxyvaleric acid), polydioxanone, poly(ethylene, terephtalate), poly(maleic acid), poly(tartaric acid), polyanhydride, polyphosphohazene, poly(amino acids), and all of the copolymers and any mixtures thereof. Cultivation process

The vessels and systems described herein can be used in a cultivation process in which at least one type of cells, tissue, tissue-like cell cultures, organs, organ- like cell cultures, or multicellular organisms are cultivated, e.g. grown and harvested, in the presence of at least one fluid or solid medium necessary for growing and/or cultivating the aforesaid culture. This can be done in a conventional manner, e.g. by using a suitable fluid medium in the vessel. For example, the medium can be a liquid such as water, and may comprise at least one of proteins, polypetides, peptides, oligopeptides, carbohydrates, glycoproteins, glycopeptides, glycolipids, lipids, fatty acids, lipoproteins, glycolipids, glucose, fructose, peptone, ammonium salts, magnesium, potassium salts, natrium salts. Also, the medium can be gaseous and may comprise at least one Of CO ₂ , CO, oxygen, N ₂ , NO, NO ₂ , N ₂ O, hydrogen, or SO ₂ or any mixture thereof.

The liquid medium may comprise between 0.1 to 100 %, more preferred from 20 to 70 % and most preferred 30 to 60 % of the vessel volume.

In a preferred embodiment, the liquid medium and/or gaseous medium is provided in at least one capillary system or excavation or any combination thereof, and can be continuously or discontinuously rinsing and/or flowing through at least one capillary system or cavity. In one embodiment of the cultivation process, the culture vessel comprises at least one filler or substrate that releases a biologically active agent, either temporarily or continuously. In another embodiment of the cultivation process, the culture vessel comprises at least one filler or substrate that absorbs one compound comprised or released by the cultivated cells, tissue, tissue-like cell cultures, organs, organ-like cell cultures, or multicellular organisms. In one embodiment of the cultivation process, the culture vessel comprises at least one filler or substrate that releases at least one signal generating that is attaching to or incorporated into the cultivated cells, tissue, tissue-like cell cultures, organs, organ-like cell cultures, or multicellular organisms. In a further embodiment of the cultivation process, the culture vessel comprises at least one filler or substrate that releases at least one virus, virus particle, vector, DNA or any other agent that is useful for transfection of the cultivated cells, tissue, tissue-like cell cultures, organs, organ-like cell cultures, or multicellular organisms. In still another embodiment of the cultivation process, the culture vessel comprises at least one filler or substrate that is used as a carrier for temporarily or permanent attachment of cells, tissue, tissue-like cell cultures, organs, organ-like cell cultures, or multicellular organisms.

In still another embodiment of the cultivation process, the culture vessel comprises at least one filler or substrate that is used to buffer the pH of the culture medium between pH 3 to pH 12, more preferred from pH 5 to 9 and most preferred from pH 6 to 8.

In still another embodiment of the cultivation process, the culture vessel is rotated continuously or discontinuously with a rotating speed of 0.01 rpm to 10 rpm, more preferred from 0.1 rpm to 6 rpm and most preferred from 0.5 rpm to 6 rpm. In still another embodiment of the cultivation process, the culture vessel is shaken continuously or discontinuously with a speed of 0.01 rpm to 10 rpm, more preferred from 0.1 rpm to 6 rpm and most preferred from

0.5 rpm to 6 rpm. In still another embodiment of the cultivation process, the culture vessel is teetered continuously or discontinuously in an angle of 0.1° to 350°, more preferred from 10° to 45°, with a speed of 0.01 rpm to 10 rpm, more preferred from 0.1 rpm to 6 rpm and most preferred from 0.5 rpm to 6 rpm.

In still another embodiment of the cultivation process, the liquid and/or gaseous medium is rinsing or flowing continuously or discontinuously throw at least one filler or substrate comprising at least one flow-channel. In still another embodiment of the cultivation process, the liquid medium is continuously or discontinuously pumped into and/or out of the vessel, one compartment of the vessel or capillary system or excavation or any combination thereof with a flow rate between 0.0001 ml/min and 10,000 ml/min, more preferred between 0.001 ml and lOOml/min and most preferred between ImI and 10ml.

In still another embodiment of the cultivation process, the gaseous medium is continuously or discontinuously pumped into and/or out of the vessel, one compartment of the vessel or capillary system or excavation or any combination thereof with a pressure between - 1,000 and 10,000 mbar, more preferred between -0.001 and 1,000 mbar and most preferred between 1 and 10 mbar.

In still another embodiment of the cultivation process, the gaseous medium is continuously or discontinuously flowing into and/or out the concentration of CO ₂ within the gas phase is kept constantly by using the at least one absorptive filler in a range of 1% to 90%, more preferred between 1% to 20% and most preferred between 4% and 6%.

In still another embodiment of the cultivation process, the cells and/or compounds released by the cells, tissue, tissue-like cell cultures, organs, organ-like cell cultures, or multicellular organisms are discontinuously or continuously removed out of the vessel, a compartment, a capillary or excavation by at least partial outflow of liquid medium. In still another embodiment of the cultivation process, the cells and/or compounds released by the cells, tissue, tissue-like cell cultures, organs, organ-like cell cultures, or multicellular organisms are discontinuously or continuously removed out of the vessel, a compartment, a capillary or excavation by at least partially removing a filler. In still another embodiment of

the cultivation process, the cells, tissue, tissue-like cell cultures, organs, organ-like cell cultures, or multicellular organisms are discontinuously or continuously removed out of the vessel, a compartment, a capillary or excavation by at least partially removing a filler.

It has to be noted, that all aspects of the various embodiments of the present invention define aspects that are intended to be combinable with each other as desired, and do not necessarily describe separate embodiments. It should further be noted that the term 'comprising' does not exclude other elements or steps and the 'a' or 'an' does not exclude a plurality. It should further be noted that the reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

_{* * *}

Having thus described in detail several exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention described above is not to be limited to particular details set forth in the above description, as many apparent variations thereof are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein or are obvious from and encompassed by the detailed description. The detailed description, given by way of example, but not intended to limit the invention solely to the specific embodiments described, may best be understood in conjunction with the accompanying Figures.

The foregoing applications, and all documents cited therein or during their prosecution ("appln. cited documents") and all documents cited or referenced in the appln. cited documents, and all documents cited or referenced herein ("herein cited documents"), and all documents cited or referenced in the herein cited documents, together with any manufacturer's instructions, descriptions, product specifications, and product sheets for any products mentioned herein or in any document incorporated by reference herein, are hereby incorporated herein by reference, and may be employed in the practice of the invention.