FIGURE 7.

Biological performance of the small-scale fluidized bed bioreactor (sFBB). (A) Cell proliferation throughout 12 days of culture analyzed for the sFBB and compared to the clinical scale FBB, with representation of the exponential growth phase. Data presented are average ± standard deviation (SD), and average ± standard error mean (SEM) for the exponential growth phase (n = 17 for FBB and n = 7 for sFBB). Statistical analysis assessed by multiple Student’s t-test. *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001. (B) Representative oxygen supply and consumption in the sFBB during the 12 days of culture with dissolved oxygen (DO) monitored at the inlet (DO1) and outlet (DO2) points. Bioreactor operated in a controlled environment of 5% CO₂ during the 12 days, with active gassing up to day 3 of the same gas mix and replaced by pure oxygen for the remaining days.