Today’s technological world is still struggling to defeat disease and slow down the aging process. The shortage of donor organs, the possibility of replacing tissues damaged by age or disease, and the desire for revolutionary advances in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and so on, have led stem cell research to a new level through the creation of numerous biotechnology companies.
For example, Australian scientists from the University of Technology in Sydney, together with Australian biotechnology company Regenus, have developed a unique modular microfluidic system aimed at harvesting stem cells using 3D printing. The technology allows the high-quality production of stem cells on a large scale.
According to the researchers, the use of microfluidic devices can solve many biotechnology-related problems. The combination of 3D printing and microfluidics integrates the different production processes in one device, making it possible to create accessible stem cell therapies for patients. The proposed technology is not yet ripe for commercialization but the developers are working with biotech companies to achieve this goal.
Previously, other researchers have noted that the method of harvesting stem cells does affect their yield. As part of a clinical trial, adipose tissue was harvested from patients of different ages by mechanical liposuction, direct surgical excision, and the Coleman method. The results of the study showed that using the Coleman method with centrifugation yielded the highest number of stem cells.
Returning to the topic of the article, it is worth clarifying that the microfluidic system consists of a micromixer, a microseparator, and a micro concentrator, which extracts mesenchymal stem cells from tissue. According to research results, cells that have undergone this modular system have retained their viability, and ability to divide and differentiate. The high therapeutic potential of the cells was also retained. Moreover, the system’s high throughput without clogging simplifies the harvesting of stem cells, minimizing the possibility of cell damage and clogging, and greatly expands the production scale and reduces its cost.
The scientists are convinced that the technology and workflow can be used to produce other cells and products, helping to reduce costs, expand production and preserve the quality of vital products.