Roller cultures are a type of cell culture technique that involves the growth of cells on the inner surface of a rotating cylinder or flask. This method is particularly useful for growing cells that require a large surface area for attachment and growth, such as fibroblasts and epithelial cells.
In a roller culture system, the cells are seeded onto the inner surface of a cylindrical flask or roller bottle and are then placed on a roller apparatus that rotates at a slow speed. As the flask rotates, the cells are continuously exposed to fresh medium and oxygen, which helps to promote their growth and proliferation. The rolling motion also prevents the cells from settling or forming clumps, which can impede growth and reduce viability.
Roller cultures are often used for large-scale cell production, such as the production of vaccines or therapeutic proteins, as they can support high cell densities and are relatively easy to scale up. They are also commonly used for virus propagation, as the rolling motion can help to enhance virus yield and infectivity.
While roller cultures can be a useful tool in cell culture, they do have some limitations. For example, they may not be suitable for all cell types, and the rotating motion can cause mechanical stress or damage to some cells. Additionally, the large surface area of the roller flask can result in increased evaporation of the medium, which may require frequent monitoring and replacement.