Harvestainer BioProcess Container (BPC)

Self-contained, single-use solution

The Thermo Scientific Harvestainer BPC is a closed system solution for harvesting and separating cell cultures grown on microcarrier beads. This system helps increase product yields relative to traditional methods and further aids in reducing clean-in-place (CIP), water for injection (WFI), and clean steam requirements. The Harvestainer BPCs, designed for smaller-scale and larger-scale applications, facilitate equipment maintenance and help to reduce process validations, cycle times, and manual final decanting processes.

Key features of the Harvestainer BPC system

Harvesting adherent cells from a closed system

The Harvestainer BPC is the ideal solution for harvesting adherent cell cultures grown on microcarrier beads, which can then be separated from the culture supernatant in a closed system.

The system is scalable and can be customized to readily integrate with existing equipment. It is designed to maximize product recovery and is built to the same quality standards applied to all Thermo Scientific single-use products. The Harvestainer BPC is composed of Thermo Scientific CX5-14 film, which is a 5-layer, 14 mil cast film produced in a cGMP facility. The outer layer is a polyester elastomer coextruded with an ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) barrier layer and a low-density polyethylene product contact layer.

For applications with bead volumes of 12 L or less

The 3 L or 12 L Harvestainer BPC is ideal for in-line microcarrier separation where 12 L or less of microcarrier bead volume is needed for separation. This system consists of a preassembled 2D BPC and tray in a complete, single-use unit, where the tray acts as the secondary containment device (Figure1).

Figure 1. 2D Harvestainer tray and BPC system.

For applications with bead volumes greater than 12 L

The 25 L or 50 L Harvestainer BPC is well suited for in-process microcarrier bead separation where the volume of the microcarrier bead culture is greater than 12 L. This system consists of a 200 L 3D BPC with two inner 25 L microbarrier 2D BPCs that fit into a conical bottom drum as the secondary containment device (Figure 2). The BPC features a dip tube design for better drainage and minimal manipulation.

Figure 2. 3D Harvestainer BPC system with two inner microbarrier 2D BPCs.

How it Works

Harvesting adherent cells from a closed system

The Harvestainer BPC is the ideal solution for harvesting adherent cell cultures grown on microcarrier beads, which can then be separated from the culture supernatant in a closed system.

Small-scale Applications

For applications with bead volumes of 12 L or less

Figure 1. 2D Harvestainer tray and BPC system.

Large-scale Applications

For applications with bead volumes greater than 12 L

Figure 2. 3D Harvestainer BPC system with two inner microbarrier 2D BPCs.

Harvestainer BPC system featured animation

Like all Thermo Scientific BPCs, the Harvestainer BPC is scalable and can be customized to readily integrate with existing equipment. It is designed to maximize product recovery and is built to the same quality standards applied to all Thermo Scientific single-use products.