Accessories for BioFactory

What are Accessories for NEST BioFactory™ Systems?

NEST BioFactory™ accessories are the replacement caps, silicone tubing, vent filters, overcaps, and pre-assembled closed-system cap assemblies used to configure BioFactory units for closed aseptic liquid transfer, gas exchange management, and multi-unit serial connections in cGMP and research-scale bioprocess workflows. The accessory set enables the BioFactory narrow-mouth cap to function as a closed-system liquid transfer port — media, wash buffer, trypsin, and cell harvest supernatant are transferred in and out through the silicone tubing connection without opening the vessel. Accessories for the BioFactory are required when operating the BioFactory as a closed system; for simple open-pour workflows using wide-mouth caps, standard vent and plug seal caps are the only accessories needed.

What you will find:

• BioFactory media transfer caps

• Sterile tubing and connector sets

• Fluid transfer adapters for cell culture vessels

• BioFactory bottle caps and closures

• Sterile quick-connect systems

• Liquid handling accessories

• Vessel handling and support tools

• Closed-system connectors for aseptic processing

Key BioFactory Accessory Categories

BioFactory Cap with Silicone Tube (CPC or Luer Connector)
The BioFactory cap with silicone tube is the primary closed-transfer accessory: an adaptor cap that fits the narrow-mouth port of the BioFactory unit, pre-assembled with 80 cm of silicone tubing and a terminal connector — either a male CPC (clamped pressure connector / quick-connect) or a standard Luer lock — for coupling to peristaltic pumps, other BioFactory units, centrifuge tubes, or PETG media bottle assemblies. Two tubing I.D. × O.D. configurations are available: 1/4" I.D. × 3/8" O.D. and 3/8" I.D. × 5/8" O.D., covering standard peristaltic pump head bore sizes. The female sealing cap included with each assembly caps the connector between uses, maintaining sterility.

Overcaps: Vented and Solid
Overcaps are secondary dust and contamination barriers placed directly on top of the BioFactory adaptor caps during culture incubation. The vented overcap contains a 0.22 µm hydrophobic breathable membrane, allowing gas exchange through the cap stack while blocking particles and microbial contamination — used during active shaker or orbital incubation when the unit's primary cap is an adaptor cap rather than a vented cap. The solid overcap provides an additional dust and contamination seal with no gas exchange — used for short-term storage or transport outside the incubator.

SPT-50 Silicone Hose
SPT-50 silicone hose (3/8" I.D. × 5/8" O.D., 50 inches / 15 meters) is the bulk tubing used to connect multiple BioFactory units in series, connect BioFactory ports to peristaltic pump heads, or extend the reach of the transfer cap assembly. SPT-50 tubing is manufactured from silicone, is individually wrapped and sterile, and passes dissolution testing per BPOG (BioPhorum Operations Group) criteria per NEST product documentation, supporting its use in biopharmaceutical production environments.

Premium Accessory Package
NEST offers a BioFactory Accessory Premium Package that includes 2 different adaptor caps, 1 hose clamp, 1 adaptor connector, 1 vent filter (50 mm), 1 additional hose clamp, and 15 m of SPT-50 silicone hose — all individually wrapped and sterile in a single kit. This package provides all components needed to set up a closed-system BioFactory media management workflow from a single kit, reducing the number of individual part orders required.

Vent Filters for Gas Exchange Management
For BioFactory units using adaptor caps rather than standard vented caps, 50 mm inline vent filters (0.22 µm hydrophobic PTFE membrane) are installed on the air inlet/outlet tubing line to maintain sterile gas exchange during media addition, harvest, and incubation. The vent filter is rated for high flow rates without creating excessive back-pressure that would resist liquid movement through the system.

Compatibility: Narrow-Mouth BioFactory Units Only
All BioFactory accessory caps and tubing assemblies are designed exclusively for the narrow-mouth BioFactory configuration. Wide-mouth BioFactory units use standard wide-mouth vent and plug seal caps only; they are not compatible with accessory cap assemblies. Confirm that your BioFactory units have narrow-mouth ports before ordering the accessory cap set.

Specifications Context

NEST BioFactory™ accessory silicone tubing and cap assemblies are manufactured from USP Class VI silicone (TPE/silicone) and polycarbonate or PP cap bodies, individually wrapped and sterile. All components have passed dissolution testing per BPOG dissolution test criteria conducted by a certified third-party laboratory per NEST Scientific documentation. The standard Luer head connections conform to ISO 594 / GB/T 1962 for reliable compatibility with standard laboratory fittings. Vent filters use a 0.22 µm hydrophobic PTFE membrane; overcaps use a 0.22 µm hydrophobic membrane. NEST BioFactory accessories are carried by MBP alongside BioFactory units.

Need the right BioFactory setup? Contact MBP today for technical assistance.