Ambr 250 HT system is a multiparallel system for microbial fermentation or cell culture process using a single use bioreactor with a maximum working volume up to 250mL. It utilizes a liquid handler to handle media batching, sampling and addition of inducer, antifoam, etc. Its multi parallel nature can hold 12~24 bioreactors and can run multiple strains or conditions simultaneously. The single use bioreactor contains an impeller (range from 60~2000 RPM), an integrated pH probe, an optical DO sensor, a pCO2 sensor, and a biomass sensor. The Ambr250 High Throughput system also integrates a gas analyzer for exhaust analysis (OUR & CER). The opening for the liquid handler is a robotic compatible cap that can be opened through gripping. We developed a gassing technique when sampling that is based on the integrated bottom sparging and headspace gassing of the single use bioreactor. With this technique, we successfully take samples by the liquid handler but not increase the DO in the fermentation broth when the cap is opened and successfully conduct anaerobic fermentation of engineered C. tyrobutyricum for n-butanol production. Using this system, we systematically evaluated the effect of pH, DO, temperature as well as glucose & xylose co-utilization in engineered C. tyrobutyricum. Compared to traditional methods, this pipeline can greatly reduce human labors and greatly enhance efficiency and data reproducibility.
