Cellular Reprogramming via Co-culture Bioreactor

Invention Summary: Co-culture systems are a popular method for engineering complex multicellular systems. Specifically, for cell therapy, where one cell population can help differentiate another therapeutic cell population. Current co-culture methods have shown benefits, though there still remains a need for a scalable, integrated system that can maintain cell viability and phenotype with downstream ease of purification of differentiated therapeutic cells. Researchers at Rutgers University developed a scalable hollow-fiber bioreactor system for co-culturing two cell types in a continuous flow system separated by membranes permeable to secreted factors, vectors, and exosomes. As opposed to static culture, the current bioreactor system allows therapeutic cells to be exposed to the microenvironment defined by soluble factors secreted from stimulator cells by flowing through the bioreactor system. Therapeutic cells can be subsequently recovered and purified after co-culture.  This system has been applied for the manufacturing of immune cell therapeutics and is suitable for use point-of-care at clinical locations. Market Applications: Reprogrammed cell manufacturing Immune cell therapy Genetically engineered cell therapy Research tool Advantages: Ex vivo cell differentiation Industrial scale-up Suitable for use at bedside Simple cell recovery and purification Dynamic co-culture with adjustable exposure times Intellectual Property & Development Status: Patent pending. Available for licensing and/or research collaboration.