Univercell-Biosolutions opens human induced pluripotent stem cells centre

Univercell-Biosolutions has opened a centre of expertise with an industrial and standardised approach to human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) production.

Based on its hiPSC Pluri-one platform, the company can now offer a wide range of standardised products, services and technology transfer activities. The centre of expertise is based at the Pierre Potier Center, in Toulouse, France. It has eight members of staff. The centre received a total investment of €3.3 million with the support of French state-backed investor BPIFrance and the metropolitan district of Toulouse, who have been supporting the project since 2012.

Univercell-Biosolutions has developed a proprietary industrialised platform and processes that meet high-quality industry standards. The technology has been validated by strict quality control tests that certify a high reproducibility and process stability from batch to batch. Furthermore, Univercell-Biosolutions is the first company to provide an industrial approach to hiPSC production taking into account the requirements of differentiation protocols.

hiPSC is an important raw material that has to be managed under strict quality controls to provide a reliable resource. It is commonly used in medical research for disease modelling, drug development, organ synthesis and tissue repair. These stem cells also have potential in regenerative and transplantation medicine. The two main groups using hiPSc are:

• Those using the cells as an initial resource in medical research (for the production of neuron, liver, cardiomyocytes…)

• Those working on cell reprogramming who often do not take into account the application potential of their hiPSCs

To bridge the communication gap between these groups, Univercell-Biosolutions’ centre of expertise offers a large panel of standardised products based on the Pluri-one platform. These solutions are specifically designed to integrate end-user requirements and objectives. The Pluri-one portfolio cell lines have been designed to fit the different culture systems and to integrate the differentiation potential of iPSC.

To fit each differentiation protocol, the Univercell-Biosolutions team has developed four hiPSC culture systems:

• Pluri-one MEF-C: Clumps of hiPSC adapted to mitomycin MEF culture

• Pluri-one MEF-CO: Clumps of hiPSC adapted to enzymatic passage and mitomycin MEF culture

• Pluri-one DM-C: Clumps of hiPSC adapted to qualified matrix culture

• Pluri-one DM-SC: Single cells of hiPSC adapted to qualified matrix culture