Embryonic Stem Cell Isolation and Expansion.
Background:Ageing populations coupled with failings in current drug based therapies are driving the quest for new treatments and methods of disease management. One of the most promising advances towards such goals is in the development of regenerative stem cell based therapies. Embryonic stem cells have the unique ability to transform themselves into any specialized cell (“pluripotent”) thereby offering the potential to replace lost or damaged tissues that arise as a consequence of genetic predisposition or disease. Currently Embryonic stem cells culture requires a feeder layer of mouse fibroblast cells or a cocktail of factors to maintain their undifferentiated state. However, even under these conditions, spontaneous differentiation of the embryonic stem cells is not completely retarded. These inefficient growth conditions are hampering the exploitation of stem cells. Current methods are only sufficient for small-scale production, are time consuming, technically demanding and do not provide a cost effective means of isolating sufficient quantities of cells to meet the clinical and research demands. The technology and proof of principle status:
Dr Christopher Ward from the University of Manchester's Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences has developed a powerful new method for the growth of undifferentiated stem cells based on manipulation of a class of cell surface proteins. Proof of concept studies have indicated the utility of the technology in maintaining pluripotency while removing the need for leukaemia inhibitory factor supplementation for mouse embryonic stem cell culture and the need for feeder cell culture for human embryonic stem cells. Key benefits:
• Utility: Human and mouse lines are amenable to the culture technology.
• Flexibility: Package of formulas to suit end use requirements.
• Cost effective and simple to scale.
• Ability to maintain cultures in 3D.
• Faster: Improved growth kinetics.
• Safer: Feeder cell independent growth. Applications:
• Stem cell bank maintenance and recovery.
• Growth of stem cells for High throughput Screens.
• Production of tissue for toxicity and safety studies.
• Robust large-scale expansion of stem cells.
• Isolation of new stem cell lines.
• Route to therapeutic indications.
Inventor(s): Dr Christopher Ward
Type of Offer: Licensing
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