Cell Culture Media Supplement and Method of Molecular Stress Control

Abstract

A novel class of agents has been identified to serve as cell-guard agents and/or target-specific supplements to increase cell quality and yield, as well as select for target cell populations. Laboratory experiments have demonstrated the use of cell-guard agents and/or target-specific supplements in the bioprocessing of cells as well as in selecting out a desired cell population. Several potential additive agents (both natural and synthetic) have been identified during these studies, including Vitamin D₃, NAC, resveratrol, salubrinal, AKT, and tunicamycin (among others) that hold promise for application in cell models. In one embodiment, hypothermic stress regimes are utilized. In another embodiment, normothermic conditions are utilized while other stressors are tested in the processing. The methods of maintaining mass cell cultures and/or selecting out particular cell populations for further research and clinical use represents an important step in therapeutic discovery. The cell-guard agents are process-matched and cell-matched to protect and/or select particular cells during laboratory and clinical manipulation. The components modulate cell stress and survival pathways.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 368,287 filed on Jul. 28, 2010 and titled Cell Culture Media Supplement and Method of Molecular Stress Control, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to the area of cell and molecular biology and, in particular, to supplements for use in bioprocessing.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The utilization of in vitro cultured cells in research, medicine, bioprocessing, and bioproduction settings is expanding exponentially. While widely applied and often viewed as common practice, cell culture is a highly variable and dynamic process which has significant impact on the overall quality and performance of the culture. The nuances of cell culture are often addressed with simple procedural or pattern alterations in a laboratory setting, yet these alterations are more often than not incompatib...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]This invention utilizes unique compound classes to confer protection to cells undergoing bioprocessing events such as harvesting, bulk culture, fluorescence activated cell sorting, shippin

Problems solved by technology

The nuances of cell culture are often addressed with simple procedural or pattern alterations in a laboratory setting, yet these alterations are more often than not incompatible with scale up for successful batch culture of cells in bioprocessing settings.

Mass production and utilization of cell media offers a number of technical challenges starting with the simple fact that cell culture is typically characterized by low growth and production rates in comparison with chemical processes.

While cellular bioprocessing has become integral in basic and applied research, as well as in medical therapeutics, a number of significant obstacles have resulted from the stresses created by the conditions used to support proper cell growth and function in an in vitro environment.

As such, much of the classical cell culture media formulation fundamentals fall short in providing a means to support efficient cell bioprocessing.

In this regard, cha

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