Microlitre/millilitre shaken bioreactors in fermentative and biotransformation processes - a review

The use of small-scale vessels (below 100mL) as tools for the characterization of fermentative and biotransformation processes is an emergent approach, which may provide a wide array of data with significant time and cost savings. These result from the reduced reagent requirements and the possibility of simultaneously carrying out the evaluation of multiple operational parameters and assessing their individual or combined effect in the process. Furthermore, it is envisaged that such data will provide the basis for a rational scale-up of the systems evaluated. This requires an engineering approach, which has been integrated with the development of microscale technology. This review comprises recent findings related to the use and characterization of Erlenmeyer type flasks, test tubes and microtiter plates as bioreactors.