Biopharmaceutical drugs are commonly produced through mammalian cell culture and perfusion culture is often used for its high levels of cell concentration and productivity. However current cell retention devices based on membrane filtration can lead to fouling and clogging of the membrane during long-term perfusion culture. The goal of my project is to investigate the use of a newly developed cell retention device in perfusion culture. This membrane-less microfluidic device uses size-based inertial sorting to continuously separate viable and non-viable cells. It does not suffer from fouling and clogging and thus is ideal for long-term applications in cell culture; possible benefits include enhanced antibody productivity and cell viability.

I learned about lab techniques and cell biology during lectures but I wanted to be able to apply what I’d learned to outside of the classroom. I’m excited for this opportunity to work at the interface of engineering and the life sciences on a project that could really make a difference in the biopharmaceutical industry. I hope to learn more about microfluidics and their various applications along the way.