By Ana Valinhas
Increasing numbers of cell therapies are predicted to move from clinical trial to a commercialization stage. This creates a need for adequate large scale manufacturing processes able to produce high amounts of therapeutic cells with the correct attributes.
Nowadays process development is achieved through macroscale approaches such as microwell plate screenings which leads to unrealistic results given that these are performed in static conditions. Additionally, high costs are associated with large quantities of input materials that are ultimately needed. A high throughput strategy based on a perfused microfluidic device can be used as a first level screen of parameters such as the type of medium, feeding regime, substrate for cell attachment and use of small molecules that influence stem cell fate.
The objective of this project is to develop a microfluidic device used for the screening of parameters that influence stem cell characteristics using typical bioprocessing materials. This technology will serve as a platform used as a first approach to find optimized conditions to expand and differentiate different types of stem cells. This work is being undertaken in collaboration with Prof Justin Cooper-White, University of Queensland, who developed original technologies in this area.
Increasing numbers of cell therapies are predicted to move from clinical trial to a commercialization stage. This creates a need for adequate large scale manufacturing processes able to produce high amounts of therapeutic cells with the correct attributes.
Nowadays process development is achieved through macroscale approaches such as microwell plate screenings which leads to unrealistic results given that these are performed in static conditions. Additionally, high costs are associated with large quantities of input materials that are ultimately needed. A high throughput strategy based on a perfused microfluidic device can be used as a first level screen of parameters such as the type of medium, feeding regime, substrate for cell attachment and use of small molecules that influence stem cell fate.
The objective of this project is to develop a microfluidic device used for the screening of parameters that influence stem cell characteristics using typical bioprocessing materials. This technology will serve as a platform used as a first approach to find optimized conditions to expand and differentiate different types of stem cells. This work is being undertaken in collaboration with Prof Justin Cooper-White, University of Queensland, who developed original technologies in this area.