Reinnervate Ltd and Roslin Cellab collaborate on the development of protocols for three dimensional growth of hESCs

30-04-2012: Reinnervate Ltd and Roslin Cellab announced that they will join forces to develop protocols for the three dimensional growth of human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESCs).

Prof Stefan Przyborski, CSO and founder of Reinnervate Ltd, commented: ‘It is well known that the physical environment in which cells grow plays an important role in controlling cell differentiation and the development of functioning tissues.  Current two dimensional (2D) models restrict the growth potential of differentiating stem cells.  The culture of cells in three dimensions (3D) radically enhances cell growth, differentiation and function.  At Reinnervate, we have developed Alvetex®Scaffold which provides a solution for simple and routine 3D cell culture.  In this collaboration, we are combining the advantages of 3D cell growth with the enormous potential of hESCs.  Preliminary work has already demonstrated enhanced neural development by stem cells using Alvetex®Scaffold technology.  We are now engaged in more extensive investigations to fully exploit 3D cell differentiation by hESCs in collaboration with Roslin Cell Lab.’

Jason King, Manager of Business Development at Roslin Cellab said ‘we are seeing great demand for improved 3D culture systems. Stem cell scientists can use these to study the biology of the stem cell “niche”. This is the 3D microenvironment in which stem cells normally reside until they receive signals that cause them to start dividing and to move out into the organ to differentiate into cells of the required type (eg. heart, brain or liver cells) and repair tissue damage. As a company we have a strong interest in liver cells (hepatocytes) which we can make from our stem cell lines. It is known that when hepatocytes are grown in 3D structures, they have both better metabolic enzyme activity and extended life spans, which are both great advantages when using these cells in cell-based toxicity assays.’

As part of the collaboration, Reinnervate will supply its market leading Alvetex®Scaffold technology and general expertise in the 3D growth of cells in vitro. Roslin Cellab will supply cells, expertise and protocol development capabilities to the project.

Financial terms were not disclosed.