NovaMatrix® IFF Pharmaceutical Solutions
Have you heard of cell culture? As a core technology in modern biomedicine, cell culture is the cultivation and bioengineering modification of cells in an extracorporeal environment to create biotechnologies with functions such as killing pathogens and tumor cells, promoting tissue and organ regeneration, and facilitating body recovery. Modified cells can be retransplanted or introduced back into the body to treat diseases. Unlike traditional drug therapy, cell therapy uses recombinant live cells to replace damaged cells and enhance immune function.
Cultivation method
3D cell culture
Cell culture is mainly divided into two-dimensional (2D) cell culture and three-dimensional (3D) cell culture. Three-dimensional cell culture is a method of cultivating and reproducing living cells in a three-dimensional structure. Compared with traditional two-dimensional cell culture, three-dimensional cell culture is a method that simulates the human body environment.
In three-dimensional cell culture, cells are typically embedded in a matrix or scaffold with specific shapes and functions. Alginate is a commonly used three-dimensional cell culture matrix that can form a porous hydrogel to stably immobilize cells, providing a microenvironment closer to in vivo conditions for the cells. Additionally, cells can be easily retrieved from the alginate hydrogel through a simple degelation process without dissociating multicellular structures.
Cell Growth and Tissue Engineering
Chimeric antigen receptor T cell immunotherapy (CAR-T), as a novel precision targeted therapy for treating tumors, activates and modifies immune cells through genetic engineering technology.
The process of producing CAR-T cells involves extracting T cells, modifying and activating them through genetic engineering, and finally infusing them back into the patient's body. To obtain enough cells to achieve therapeutic effects, we need to modify and proliferate the cells. A common method is to mix a solution of T cells containing hyaluronic acid with a solution of alginate to prepare alginate hydrogel tubes. The narrow geometric shape of these hydrogel tubes helps cells acquire nutrients, increase yield, and significantly reduce cell death rates.
This technology utilizes the direct reaction of alginate solution with calcium chloride to form a gel, without the need for shaking, thus avoiding cell aggregation. Furthermore, researchers are exploring the use of ultra-pure methylcellulose as a substitute for hyaluronic acid to optimize cell growth in hydrogel test tubes. In another study, researchers coupled ultra-pure alginate with heparin to prepare particles pre-loaded with T cell activation factors. These alginate particles effectively control cytokine release, promoting T cell activity and differentiation. Additionally, T cells cultured in a 3D alginate scaffold promote their growth and enhance their anti-tumor activity. NovaMatrix® alginate hydrogels are also used as a platform for ex vivo cultivation of CAR-T cells, with tunable porosity supporting the growth of T cells and retroviral particles, thereby simplifying the activation of immune cells.
About NovaMatrix® Business
NovaMatrix® is a leading global producer of ultra-pure biopolymer, with nearly 40 years of successful experience in the field of bioscience. Our elite team in Norway combines outstanding technical capabilities with deep professional knowledge to provide high-performance biopolymers for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical treatment industries. Leveraging IFF's pharmaceutical solutions business unit's excellent polymer design and production capabilities, we offer customized biopolymer solutions to our customers. For business inquiries, please call 13916416926 (Manager Zhai).
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