Engineered Cell Lines for Growth Factor-Free Proliferation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mass production of cells from cultured metazoan cells is limited by maximum culture density and reliance on exogenous growth factors, which are costly and time-prohibitive.

Innovation Solution

Engineering cell lines with polynucleotides encoding growth factor ligands and/or receptors to enable self-sufficient growth factor signaling, allowing cells to proliferate without external supplementation, thereby increasing cell density and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If exogenous growth factors are supplemented to support cell productivity, then cell proliferation rate is improved, but production cost and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell proliferation rateVSAvoidtime for growth factor supplementation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The cell line is engineered to autonomously produce and respond to growth factor signals through endogenous expression of growth factor ligands (e.g., FGF2, IGF1, PDGFb) and their corresponding receptors (e.g., FGFR, IGFR, PDGFR). This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external growth factor supplementation, allowing cells to maintain high proliferation rates while reducing production time and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If exogenous growth factors are supplemented to support cell productivity, then cell proliferation rate is improved, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell proliferation rateVSAvoidcost of growth factors

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The engineered cell line produces its own growth factor ligands and receptors endogenously, creating a self-sufficient system that does not require costly external growth factor supplementation. This eliminates the continuous expense of purchasing and adding exogenous growth factors while maintaining high cell proliferation rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The cell line is genetically modified to copy and express the genes encoding growth factor ligands and receptors that would normally be provided externally. By copying these essential signaling components into the cell's own genome, the system replaces expensive external substances with internally produced equivalents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Quantity of substance

If maximum culture density is increased, then yield is improved, but reliance on exogenous growth factors increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell densityVSAvoiddependence on external supplementation

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The engineered cell line achieves high culture densities through autonomous production of growth factor ligands and receptors, eliminating the need for complex external supplementation protocols. The cells self-regulate their growth signals, allowing density increase without increased dependence on external factors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12584109B2Engineering cell lines capable of proliferation in growth factor free media formulations

Publication Date: 2026.03.24 UPSIDE FOODS INC

AI summary

Provided herein are methods of engineering a cell line for reduced dependence on exogenous growth factor(s). In some embodiments, the method includes introducing into a cell one or more of: a polynucleotide comprising a coding sequence of a growth factor ligand; a polynucleotide comprising a coding sequence of a growth factor receptor; or a polynucleotide comprising a coding sequence of an activated downstream growth factor target, and culturing the cells in a cultivation infrastructure.