Plasticell, the UK stem cell differentiation specialist has licensed EMD Millipore, the Life Science Division of Merck KGaA, to distribute a superior, single-application osteogenic medium discovered using the massively parallel combinatorial screening system, CombiCult.
The osteogenic medium is serum- and xeno- free, more consistent and more potent than currently available formulations. Under the terms of the contract, EMD Millipore has secured a license to distribute the medium globally for research purposes with Plasticell retaining full rights over therapeutic applications.
Early adopters of the medium include Organovo, Inc., a leading San Diego biotech company developing tissue bioprinting applications. Dr. Eric Michael David MD JD, Chief Strategy Officer of Organovo, Inc. commented, “Organovo, Inc considers Plasticell’s CombiCult bone differentiation media to be a significant leap forward in helping to create 3D bone tissue for a multiple variety of research and transplant applications. Brief incubation of 3D tissue constructs generated with Organovo’s NovoGen MMX Bioprinter in Plasticell’s CombiCult bone differentiation media produces tissue of impressive osteogenic potential, including key bone-specific and mineralization markers. We found we could rapidly fabricate functional, fully human tissue derived from MSCs and the ECM proteins they produce. Plasticell’s media enabled a remarkable efficiency in tissue fabrication and maturation, and we look forward to continuing to work with Plasticell’s technology to generate additional bioprinted 3D tissues from well-characterized, renewable, quality cell sources such as MSCs.”
The optimized osteogenic medium was developed using CombiCult to perform a rapid screen of 3,375 combinations of fully defined cell culture media, equivalent to hundreds of thousands of combinations of media components. “The formulation of this medium in under 3 months from start to finish is a clear demonstration of the capability of the CombiCult technology to deliver market-leading products in record time,” said Dr Jey Jeyakumar, the Principal Scientist who performed the factor screen and optimized the media formulation.
In contrast to all currently available osteogenic media, Plasticell’s formulation is fully defined (serum–free) and contains no xenogeneic components. Moreover, mineralization can be detected in less than one week, whereas competing products that contain serum require approximately 21 days to attain similar levels of bone formation.
Date: August 14, 2012
Source: Plasticell
Filed Under: Drug Discovery
