iPS Cell Platelet Production via Sac-Like Structures

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing platelets, such as collecting blood from donors or differentiating megakaryocytes from umbilical cord blood, face challenges like donor shortages, preservation issues, and HLA compatibility problems, making it difficult to stably and efficiently supply platelets for treatments like leukemia.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the selection of human-derived iPS cell clones forming sac-like structures, which are cultured with OP9 or 10T1/2 cells to induce hematopoietic progenitor cells, followed by differentiation under conditions including TPO, SCF, and heparin to efficiently produce megakaryocytes and platelets, overcoming HLA compatibility issues and antibody generation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If platelets are supplied by collecting blood from donors, then platelets can be obtained for treatment, but donor shortage and inability to preserve frozen platelets occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplatelet supplyVSAvoidstable supply
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses iPS cells as an intermediary to produce platelets. Instead of directly collecting from donors, the system converts iPS cells into megakaryocytes which then generate platelets in vitro, serving as a mediator between donor cells and patient treatment needs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables self-service by using patient-specific iPS cells to produce their own platelets. The patient's own cells are reprogrammed and differentiated to generate platelets that are then transfused back to the same patient, eliminating dependency on external donors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If TPO is administered to patients to induce megakaryocyte differentiation, then platelet production is stimulated, but neutralizing antibodies are produced after administration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplatelet productionVSAvoidneutralizing antibodies
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the differentiation process from the patient's body and performs it externally in vitro. Megakaryocytes are differentiated in the laboratory using TPO and other factors, then the resulting platelets are transfused to the patient, removing the harmful antibody response that occurs when TPO is administered directly to patients

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses cultured megakaryocytes as an intermediary between TPO administration and platelet delivery to patients. TPO is used in the culture medium during in vitro differentiation, and the differentiated platelets are then transferred to patients without direct TPO exposure, preventing antibody formation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If megakaryocytes are differentiated from umbilical cord blood or myelocytes, then platelets can be produced, but only small quantities of hematopoietic stem cells are available as source

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedifferentiation methodVSAvoidhematopoietic stem cells
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary expansion of iPS cells before differentiation into megakaryocytes. The iPS cells are first proliferated extensively in culture to generate large numbers, then a portion is directed toward megakaryocyte differentiation, ensuring sufficient starting material for clinical-scale platelet production

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the cellular state from differentiated blood cells to pluripotent stem cells. By using iPS cells instead of umbilical cord blood or myelocytes, the system accesses a cell population with unlimited proliferative capacity and differentiation potential, fundamentally changing the quantity and quality of available starting cells

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If platelets are induced from ES cells for clinical application, then platelet production is achieved, but HLA compatibility problems remain when applied to patients

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplatelet inductionVSAvoidHLA compatibility issues
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by using patient-specific iPS cells to generate platelets for the same patient. The iPS cells are derived from the patient's own somatic cells, differentiated into megakaryocytes and platelets in vitro, then transfused back to the patient, ensuring perfect HLA compatibility and eliminating rejection or antibody formation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses patient-specific iPS cells as an intermediary between the patient's own cells and the transfused platelets. This intermediary step allows the platelets to be genetically identical to the patient's cells, solving HLA compatibility issues that arise when using ES cells from different individuals

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2277995B1Method for preparation of platelet from ips cell
Publication Date: 2017.09.27 THE UNIV OF TOKYO
  • EP2277995B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2B
  • EP2277995B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~4
  • EP2277995B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for efficiently preparing blood cells, such as mature megakaryocytes and platelets, from iPS cells in an in vitro culture system. The present invention provides a sac-like structure enclosing hematopoietic progenitor cells, which is obtained by inoculating iPS cells onto feeder cells and then culturing the iPS cells under conditions suitable for inducing the differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Moreover, the present invention also provides a method for producing various types of blood cells, which comprises culturing hematopoietic progenitor cells enclosed in the sac-like structure under conditions suitable for inducing the differentiation of blood cells. Furthermore, the present invention also provides a method for producing various types of blood cells, particularly megakaryocytes and platelets, without involving the sac-like structure.