Georgia Tech researchers introduces us to a technology that can control therapeutic cell manufacturing

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology also referred to as Georgia Tech showcased a technique in healthcare to monitor particular biomolecules like growth factors. The researchers have utilized the microfluidic technology to prepare the samples from the chemically complex bioreactor environment; they made use of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) to monitor therapeutic cell production online.

"The way that the production of cell therapeutics is done today is very much an art," said Andrei Fedorov, Woodruff Professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

He added that the process control should progress swiftly to support the therapeutic applications. He feels that this technology sets a benchmark in reaching the goal of global availability.

This technique also helps to know which size of biomolecules should be used to monitor the cell health. Eventually, the researchers hope to fuse their label-free monitoring directly into high-volume bioreactors that will produce cells in large quantities and to also make the new therapies accessible at reasonable cost and steady quality.

"We have used advanced microfabrication techniques to create a microfluidic device that will be able to treat samples in less than a minute," said Mason Chilmonczyk, graduate research assistant. "Traditional sample preparation can require hours to days."