Expansion of human multipotent stem cells in aqueous/aqueous two phase systems

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The highly innovative study proposed here will develop a novel isotonic, dispersed aqueous/aqueous two phase system (ATPS) for the reproducible expansion and harvest of multi-potent human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) at larger scales in stirred tank bioreactors. The approach to be tested here moves away from the need to use harsh enzymatic treatments to harvest cells from surfaces, relying instead on the controlled disassembly of the 'temporary surface' that the cells are attached to. The successful conclusion of this exciting project will integrate two processes; cell growth and subsequent harvest thereby revolutionising adherent cell culture in stirred bioreactors where a fully functional cell forms the basis of the product necessary for regenerative medicine purposes.

Quite simply, if sucessful, the impact on adherent cell culture technology would be to revolutionise adherent cell culture where a fully functional cell is the product such as in regenerative medicine bioprocessing. The highly innovative study proposed here will develop a novel isotonic aqueous/aqueous two phase (ATPS) based microcarrier 'particle type' system for the reproducible scalable expansion and harvest of multipotent human mesechymal stem cells (hMSC). The approach to be tested here moves away from the need to use harsh enzymatic treatments to harvest cells from surfaces relying instead on the controlled removal of the 'temporary surface' from under the cell. Therefore this research will be of benefit for researchers and industrialists in the pharmaceutical sector world-wide so the rights to such IP would carry considerable prestige and be worthy of further exploitation.