Peristaltic Pumps for Cell Culture – Optimal Cell Protection

Why Does Cell Culture Require Low-Shear Pumps?

Shear force is the mechanical friction exerted on a fluid as it moves through a pump. In pumps with impellers or valves, the fluid is forced through narrow passages, easily rupturing cell membranes. Peristaltic pumps only gently squeeze the external flexible tubing, producing a gentler flow that significantly reduces this damage.

Cell Culture Applications Using Peristaltic Pumps

• Culture media feeding for bioreactors and wave bags
• Harvesting culture fluid after batch completion
• Tangential flow filtration (TFF/UF) for product purification
• Bioprocess fluid transfer in closed single-use systems

Selecting the Right Tubing for Cell Culture

Priority should be given to platinum-cured silicone or Pharmed® BPT tubing due to their high biocompatibility and USP Class VI compliance. Refer to our article on how to choose peristaltic pump tubing to better understand selection criteria for specific applications.

According to Avantor’s analysis on Masterflex peristaltic pump efficiency in cell culture, reducing pump speed and selecting the correct tubing size helps lower mechanical stress on cells, thereby markedly improving production yield.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are peristaltic pumps suitable for large-scale bioreactors?

Yes. With high-flow I/P® series drives, peristaltic pumps maintain their low-shear advantage when scaling up from pilot to industrial production.

What should be considered when operating pumps for cell culture?

It is recommended to operate at moderate speeds, avoid excessively high pressures, and periodically inspect the tubing to ensure a consistent flow throughout the culture batch.