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SBIR Phase I: Development of a BioAcoustic Mixing Platform

Award Information
Agency: National Science Foundation
Branch: N/A
Contract: 0512829
Agency Tracking Number: 0512829
Amount: $100,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: MI
Solicitation Number: NSF 04-604
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2004
Award Year: 2005
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
130 North Main Street
Butte, MT 59701
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Todd McAdams
 Dr
 (406) 497-5200
 lcfarrar@resodyn.com
Business Contact
 Lawrence Farrar
Title: Mr
Phone: (406) 497-5200
Email: lcfarrar@resodyn.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will demonstrate the feasibility of using ResonantAcoustics (low-frequency acoustic mixing) as the basis for developing a highly efficient BioAcoustic Mixing Platform (BMP). Conventional biological orbital shakers and cell culture flasks have substantial drawbacks that include low oxygen transfer capability and presence of detrimental oxygen and nutrient gradients. Culture containers placed on the BMP, in contrast, are expected to achieve superior mass transfer rates (that is, increased oxygen transfer and reduced mixing times). In this Phase I project, new types of disposable culture containers and closures will be designed in order to take full advantage of the enhanced acoustic mixing for both microbial and cell cultures. Performance of the BMP will be compared to conventional shakers and flasks for bacterial, fungal, and animal cell cultures. It is anticipated that the BMP will be able to support dramatically increased biomass levels and lead to the development of highly productive disposable bioreactor systems. The commercial application of this project will be in biotechnology based process development activities for the biological production of pharmaceuticals. Much of this work is currently performed using stirred-tank bioreactors due to the limitations of orbital shake-flasks and cell culture flasks. A mixing technology that integrates laboratory-scale and pilot-scale experiments would be highly valuable in speeding the pace of process development.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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