Japan’s PHC Corporation, through its Biomedical Division, has unveiled a prototype of its new cell expansion system, LiCellGrow, at the ISCT Europe 2024 Regional Meeting in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Currently under development, LiCellGrow uses the company’s unique In-Line monitoring technology, which continuously measures cell metabolites, eliminating repeated sampling.
The device allows pharmaceutical companies to visualise continuous metabolic changes in cells in real time and adjust the cell culture automatically to optimise cell growth.
PHC said its LiCellGrow system will expand the availability of cell and gene therapy (CGT) products by advancing the manufacturing of specific cells required.
CGT involves the removal, modification, and reintroduction of a patient’s cells into their body to fight disease, which emerged as a promising therapeutic field for difficult-to-treat conditions.
The current method of evaluating cell quality, which involves sampling the final product, may lower both manufacturing efficiency and yield, increasing production costs.
LiCellGrow system continuously measures concentrations of glucose and lactate, two critical indicators of cell metabolism to provide a view of actual changes in the culture environment.
Based on real-time data, the system then automatically exchanges the culture medium to maintain the culture environment in an optimal state.
It is designed to improve and homogenise cell quality while increasing cell culture efficiency and reducing costs through loss reduction.
LiCellGrow also features single-use culture bags with In-Line sensors, which enable closed-system cell culturing to maintain a sterile environment.
Also, the cell expansion system can be installed in existing CO2 incubators, allowing researchers to conduct studies using their preferred equipment.
PHC in its statement said: “LiCellGrow is an example of synergy between the Biomedical Division and IVD Division (hereinafter referred to as “IVD”) of PHC Corporation.
“The In-Line monitoring technology featured in this cell expansion system is newly developed proprietary technology building on the core technology of blood glucose sensor, the main product developed by IVD.
“By combining this sensor technology from IVD with advanced cell culture environment control technology from the Biomedical Division, PHC seeks to offer researchers and pharmaceutical companies greater value.”
PHC’s Biomedical Division plans to launch the cell expansion system to support the development of manufacturing processes for CGT products worldwide.
