VentriLabs, a bioprocessing instrumentation company based in Gothenburg, Sweden, has developed the DuaFLO® BioPump, a pumping system for upstream and downstream bioprocessing that is designed to deliver continuous, non-pulsatile flow at very low shear.

How the pump works

The device operates on a patented synchronized dual membrane mechanism. According to the company, shear levels are significantly below those of existing pump technologies, a characteristic it describes as particularly beneficial when handling shear-sensitive cells and biomolecules under process-relevant conditions.

VentriLabs points out that magnetically levitated centrifugal pumps have become the “go-to” choice for low-shear perfusion applications, but that their performance is known to degrade at elevated cell densities and under variable viscosity or pressure conditions, both of which are common in intensified bioprocesses.

Head-to-head testing

In externally conducted, independent head-to-head testing, mammalian cells undergoing continuous tangential flow filtration (TFF) perfusion were circulated using the DuaFLO BioPump and, in a direct comparison, a magnetically levitated centrifugal reference pump. The DuaFLO system produced substantially lower levels of shear-induced stress metabolites, including ammonia and lactate. Cells processed with the BioPump showed an average 25% increase in IgG antibody productivity compared with the reference condition. VentriLabs says this demonstrates a direct link between reduced mechanical stress and improved cellular performance over time.

Sensors and single-use design

The system incorporates built-in pressure and flow sensors for automated process control, integrated air management and single-step automated priming. A single use cassette design allows rapid replacement with minimal process interruption.

Early access

The BioPump is entering its early access phase. Organisations working with perfusion-based upstream processes or downstream fluid handling applications are invited to contact VentriLabs to discuss participation, on +46 (0) 300 56 65 20 or info@ventrilabs.com.

For more information, visit: https://ventrilabs.com/

Digital issue: Please click here for more information