Dissolvable Culture Carrier Surface Modification for Cell Harvest
Solution Overview
Problem
In large-scale cell culture, dissolvable culture carriers leave behind residues that are similar in size to or smaller than cells, making it difficult to completely avoid contamination during cell harvest, especially when using dissolvable carriers that are designed to be broken down according to established protocols.
Innovation Solution
A culture manufacturing method involving adherent cells in contact with a dissolvable culture carrier larger than the cells, where the cells are supported on the carrier's surface and subjected to a modification treatment to detach them based on size difference, using carriers like dextran or polygalacturonic acid, and employing a surface modifier to maintain the carrier's size larger than the cells for precise separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a dissolvable culture carrier is dissolved following cell culture, then the cells can be harvested easily, but dissolution residues are generated that contaminate the cell suspension
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using a modification treatment that modifies only a portion of the dissolvable culture carrier (specifically the surface where cells are attached) rather than dissolving the entire carrier. This selective modification allows cell detachment while leaving the bulk carrier intact and filterable, thus avoiding the generation of fine dissolution residues that would contaminate the cell suspension.
2Productivity
If the dissolvable culture carrier is completely dissolved, then cell harvest is simplified, but the separation of cells from dissolution residues becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the dissolvable culture carrier into two functional parts: the surface layer that is modified to enable cell detachment, and the bulk carrier that remains intact to serve as a filterable scaffold. This segmentation allows the cell harvest process to be efficient while maintaining the ability to separate cells from residues through filtration, as the bulk carrier particles are large enough to be retained by filters.
3Quantity of substance
If a dissolvable culture carrier is used, then large-scale cell culture is enabled, but dissolution residues of similar size to cells are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the surface properties of the dissolvable culture carrier different from its bulk properties. The surface is modified with enzymes or other agents that enable cell detachment, while the bulk material maintains its original structure and size. This local modification ensures that when cells are detached, the bulk carrier remains as large particles that can be easily separated from cells by filtration, avoiding the problem of residue-size similarity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method achieves high adherent cell purity with minimal impurity contamination by ensuring the dissolvable culture carrier residues are significantly reduced, allowing for efficient and precise cell harvest with high cell survival rates.
Implementation Method 1
subjecting the dissolvable culture carrier to a modification treatment that modifies at least a portion of the surface in order to detach the adherent cells in the suspension culture from the surface of the dissolvable culture carrier
Implementation Method 2
separating and harvesting the adherent cells from the modified dissolvable culture carrier that is larger than the size of the adherent cells on the basis of the size difference
Data Source
AI summary
A culture manufacturing method that includes: bringing adherent cells into contact with a dissolvable culture carrier that is larger than the size of the adherent cells and disposing the adherent cells on the surface of the dissolvable culture carrier, subjecting the adherent cells disposed on the surface of the dissolvable culture carrier to suspension culture in a culture medium, subjecting the dissolvable culture carrier to a modification treatment that modifies at least a portion of the surface in order to detach the adherent cells in the suspension culture from the surface of the dissolvable culture carrier, and, following the modification treatment, separating and harvesting the adherent cells from the modified dissolvable culture carrier that is larger than the size of the adherent cells on the basis of the size difference.