Status and developments of animal cell technology using suspension culture techniques

In this review the state of the art in animal cell technology, using suspension culture techniques is updated as far as the end of 1980. We have tried to discuss, on a broad basis, the current status and potential developments of both, the purely biological and the biochemical engineering aspects which may be important to improve the performance and design of animal cell technologies. The process economics could be considerably improved by the use of transformed animal cell substrates, the use of cheaper cultivation media and by methodological and engineering means. Most of these aspects are in the state of realization. Nevertheless, for a great variety of biological active substances which do not require so – or posttranslational processing, recombinant DNA‐techniques (e.g. genetic engineering) are a promising alternative for the production of animal cell derived substances.