Agri-Food Innovation
Maximising Cell Cultivation with Low-Cost 3D Scaffolding
A new 3D scaffolding method that uses microcarrier beads to maximise the 3D volume of the cell culture, leading to increased yield. The conditions of the cell culture process are also optimised to improve the cell viability in a 3D environment.
Technology overview
Current clean meat technologies grow lab meat using conventional 2D cell culture techniques. However, this approach often results in a low yield of cells since the cells are limited to growing on surface areas.
RP has developed a new 3D scaffolding method to address this issue by using microcarrier beads that provide cells with additional surface area for attachment and proliferation. These microcarrier beads are suspended in the cell culture, maximising the 3D volume of the cell culture, which leads to an increased yield. A specific type of microcarrier has been identified as yielding the highest number of porcine cells, and the conditions of the cell culturing process have been optimised to enhance cell viability in a 3D environment.
Technology features
Increases cell yield by a factor of seven compared to lab-scale 2D culture.
Microcarrier beads maintain their shape throughout the process.
Composed of inert and food-grade material.
Different cell types require specific types of microcarrier beads for optimise growth.
Potential applications
Relevant for the clean meat industry and cultured meat companies.
Applicable to pharmaceutical companies that use such technologies for protein manufacturing, drug discovery, or antibody production.
Benefits
Increases the yield of viable cells compared to 2D cell culture.
Scalable for larger production volumes.
Up to a seven-fold reduction in production costs at larger scales.
Provide a pathogen-free source of meat.
Offers high reproducibility.
Requires a low amount of microcarrier beads: 10g microcarriers per 20 litres of cell culture.
Commercialisation
The technology is available for licensing and technology transfer.
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