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lab glass vessels filled with liquid

Biotech & Pharma

Our Biotech & Pharma business field helps pharmaceutical companies such as Roche and DSM to improve their bioprocess development with PreSens sensors. With our non-invasive measurement systems no more time consuming sampling is necessary and they allow simultaneous monitoring of multiple samples. A wide variety of disposables with integrated, pre-calibrated sensors is available.

Disposable culture vessels with integrated sensors

Disposable Culture Vessels with Integrated Sensors

The online measurement of dissolved oxygen concentration and pH in shaken bioreactors paves the way for proper scale up or scale down activities - from bench-top stirred bioreactors to larger or smaller scales. So far, appropriate measurement methods for culture monitoring in small scale cultivation vessels were missing. With the application of single-use optical sensors culture conditions can be monitored online without sampling. They enable highly parallelized measurements in multiwell plates, cell culture tubes, and differently designed flasks.

Shake Flask with O2 and pH Spots
Spinner Flask with O2 and pH Spots
Culture Flask with O2 and pH Spots
24-Depp Well Dish with O2 Spots
iTube with pH Spot

Robust oxygen sensors that stand multiple autoclavings

Autoclavable Oxygen Sensor Spots & Probes

The non-invasive optical oxygen sensors measure the partial pressure of both dissolved and gaseous oxygen. They are fixed on the inner surface of the transparent glass or plastic material. The oxygen concentration can then be measured in a contactless and non-destructive manner from outside, through the wall of the vessel. Different coatings for different concentration ranges are available. Oxygen probes measure the partial pressure of both dissolved oxygen and gaseous oxygen. The oxygen sensor coating is integrated into high grade stainless steel fittings. The optical oxygen probes show an excellent long-term stability and stand rough process conditions.

Autoclavable O2 Spot
O2 Probe OXYPro®
O2 Sensor for In-line Measurement
O2 Dipping Probe

Multiparameter systems for online monitoring in shake flasks and multidishes

Multiparameter Systems for Online Monitoring in Shake Flasks or Multidishes

Our systems combine oxygen and pH sensor probes and appropriate meters, and fit in nearly all standard shakers or incubators. Additionally, the SFR vario can also measure biomass and optical density. All our systems are mainly developed for industrial and routine research applications as well as parallel online monitoring and are, therefore, ideally suited for biotech & pharma applications.

SFR Shake Flask Reader
SFR vario
SDR SensorDish Reader

Oxygen microsensors for quality control

Oxygen Microsensors

Oxygen microsensors are miniaturized chemical optical oxygen sensors designed for all research and packaging applications where a small tip size (< 50 µm) and fast response time (t90 < 3 sec.) are necessary. The optical oxygen microsensors are based on 230 µm silica fiber and are available with sensor tip diameters from < 50 µm to 230 µm. The oxygen microsensors are mounted in different housings (needle-type housing, implantable, micro-profiling) and offer a unique research tool for investigating systems where micro-invasive and small sensors are needed.

Needle-type O2 Microsensor
Implantable O2 Microsensor
Profiling O2 Microsensor
O2 Microsensor with Fixed Sensor Tip

Flow-through cells with integrated sensor for perfusion monitoring

Flow-through Cell with Integrated Sensors

Chemical optical sensors integrated in plastic or metal flow-through cells (FTCs) allow non-invasive online monitoring in perfusion systems or production lines. Plastic FTCs are made of polycarbonate and can be delivered beta-irradiated or untreated, while metal flow-through cells stand CIP or steam sterilization.

Autoclavable O2 Flow-Through Cell
O2 Sensor in Metal Flow-through Connector
O2 Microsensor in Metal Flow-through Cell
Single-use O2 Flow-through Cell
Single-use pH Flow-through Cell

O2 and pH NicePorts for customized integration (welding) into bags

O2 & pH Nice Ports for Integration into Single-use Cultivation Bags

Bags and single-use bioreactors are in the process of revolutionizing the way biopharmaceuticals are manufactured. Our non-invasive oxygen and pH sensors - integrated in the culture vessels - are the tools to turn simple disposables into full bioreactors. The ports are made of polyethylene which allows easy welding with cultivation bags.

Nice Port pH
Nice Port DO

Sensors for non-invasive measurements in culture vessels

Sensor Spots

The non-invasive optical sensors measure either the partial pressure of dissolved and gaseous oxygen, pH without the need for at-line sampling, or the CO2 concentration. They are fixed on the inner surface of the transparent glass or plastic material. The concentration can then be measured in a contactless and non-destructive manner from outside, through the wall of the vessel. For oxygen, different coatings for different concentration ranges are available.

Non-autoclavable O2 Spots
Autoclavable O2 Spots
pH Spots
CO2 Spots

Oxygen probes for bioreactors and steel fermenters

Oxygen Probes

Oxygen probes measure the partial pressure of both dissolved and gaseous oxygen. The oxygen sensor coating is integrated into high grade stainless steel fittings. The optical oxygen probes show an excellent long-term stability and stand rough process conditions. PreSens oxygen probes operate in industrial process control and various research applications. Certain probe models - equipped with standardized threads - are compatible with most bioreactors and port adapters and can be applied for dissolved oxygen measurements in large-scale cell or microbial cultures.


O2 Sensor Exchange Cap
Wall Mount Trace O2 Meter
O2 Probe OXYPro®
O2 Probe

Microtiterplates with integrated sensors for screening purposes

Microtiterplates with Integrated Sensors

Microtiter plates and multidishes with integrated oxygen and / or pH sensors allow high-throughput assays. By monitoring cellular respiration, the effect of different concentrations of pharmaceutically active substances can be easily determined. In strain development the online dissolved oxygen and pH monitoring gives valuable information about the metabolic status of cultures at all times, while parallel experiments with different strains or different media composition are conducted. These disposables offer new options, e. g. when developing harvesting strategies and optimizing media.

96-well Plate with pH Sensors
96-well Flat-bottom Microtiterplate with O2 Sensors
96-well Round-bottom Microtiterplate with O2 Sensors
6-well Plate with O2 and pH Sensors
24-well Dish with O2 Sensors
6-well Dish with pH Sensor

Bioprocess Development: Sensors in Small-scale Systems

The online measurement of dissolved oxygen concentration and pH in shaken bioreactors paves the way for proper scale up or scale down activities - from bench-top stirred bioreactors to larger or smaller scales. So far, appropriate measurement methods for culture monitoring in shake flasks were missing. With the application of single-use optical sensors culture conditions can be monitored online without sampling. They enable highly parallelized measurements in multiwell plates and flasks. Limitations can be detected in time while the online readings give new insights into metabolic activities in shaken cultures.

Production: Single-use and Autoclavable Sensor for Online Culture Monitoring

Bags and single-use bioreactors are in the process of revolutionizing the way biopharmaceuticals are manufactured. Our non-invasive oxygen and pH sensors - integrated in the culture vessels - are the tools to turn simple disposables into full bioreactors. For steel fermenters our robust probes are the ideal monitoring device, as they stand autoclaving, SIP, and CIP. The dissolved oxygen probes are equipped with standardized threads that are compatible with most bioreactors and port adapters and can be applied for measurement in large-scale cell or microbial cultures.

Drug Screening & Strain Development: Monitoring in Multiwell Culture Vessels

Microtiter plates and multidishes with integrated oxygen and pH sensors allow high-throughput assays. By monitoring cellular respiration, the effect of different concentrations of pharmaceutically active substances can be easily determined. In strain development the online dissolved oxygen and pH monitoring gives valuable information about the metabolic status of cultures at all times, while parallel experiments with different strains or different media composition are conducted. These disposables offer new options, e. g. when developing harvesting strategies and optimizing media.

Quality Control: Micro-Invasive & Fast Oxygen Determination

Oxygen inside packaging can affect the stability of pharmaceuticals. Micro-invasive sensors with steel needles are ideally suited to measure the oxygen content e. g. in blisters or pharmaceutical vials. Pierced through the packaging material, these sensors determine the oxygen content inside the headspace as well as in a liquid within seconds. It is an easy method to check and ensure the quality of pharmaceutical products and packaging.

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