In Focus: Scaling iPSC cultures
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold tremendous potential for cell therapy, but their large-scale expansion presents significant challenges. Traditional T-flask culture methods are labor-intensive, prone to variability, and susceptible to contamination, all of which can impact the quality of the final product.
In this In Focus feature, we will be exploring how manufacturing tools, such as hollow fiber perfusion-based bioreactors, can be used to overcome scalability challenges, while still maintaining the quality and pluripotency of cultured cells.
Infographic
This infographic outlines the challenges of manual iPSC expansion using traditional T-flask culture methods and explores what the iPSC expansion workflow looks like in a hollow fiber perfusion-based bioreactor.
Interview
Minimizing variability and maximizing quality in iPSC cultures: an interview with Nathan Frank
Senior Scientist Nathan Frank discusses the limitations of T-flask-based iPSC expansion and explores how automated systems like the Quantum Flex hollow-fiber perfusion bioreactor address these challenges. Nathan also highlights strategies for successful transitions to automated systems and shares insights on the future of iPSC manufacturing.
Resources
Poster: Scaling up pluripotent cells: expansion of iPSCs in a hollow-fiber bioreactor
iPSC expansion in the Quantum Flex cell expansion system small bioreactor
In association with Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies.