Cell Therapy

Stem Cell Bioprocessing has built strong competences in the development of up- and downstream processes for manufacturing of Cell-therapy products for clinical applications

Cell Therapy research focus is the development of new or improved bioprocess. Our research interest include, cell expansion, cell differentiation, cell maturation, cell isolation, cryo-preservation and development of new methods for detailed characterization.

Production and purification of stem cells

The strategy for production of stem cells and/or their derivatives consists in designing culturing approaches for 3D cell organization in bioreactor-based systems. We’ve demonstrated that this is a powerful platform to boost stem cell expansion and differentiation/maturation yields.

For downstream bioprocessing of stem cells (i.e. cell concentration/volume reduction, cell washing and removal of undesired cell populations and other impurities), our strategy has been focused in the establishment of integrated purification approaches, by combining membrane technology and novel chromatography tools.

In terms of Cell Therapy applications, iBET is directing efforts on the development of cGMP-compatible manufacturing platforms, based on disposable technology (bioreactors, perfusion systems and membrane chromatography tools) and on the use of xeno-free components (e.g. culture medium, matrices).

Preservation and characterization of stem cells

Novel strategies for the cold preservation and cryopreservation of stem cells in 2D monolayers or 3D cultures have also been developed, using cell entrapment in a permeable hydrogel matrix, vitrification techniques, etc.

Our bioprocess development is integrated with robust cellular characterization tools. We apply integrative approaches, including powerful “omics” technologies (proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics and fluxomics) as complementary analytical tools to support process understanding and optimization, for stem cells characterization and elucidation of molecular pathways regulating cell survival, cell proliferation and/or differentiation/maturation.