Dissolvable microcarriers for cell culturing

Adherent cell culturing is an essential technique across multiple industries, including biologics production, regenerative medicine, cell therapy and cultivated meat or fish production. This method enables cells to be grown, expanded and harvested. Unlike suspension cells, adherent cells require a substrate to attach and proliferate. Traditional 2D culturing techniques, such as flask-based systems, impose significant limitations on scalability and process efficiency.

What are microcarriers for cell culturing? 

Microcarriers are small spherical particles (100–500 µm in diameter), designed to support the adhesion and growth of adherent cells. Once cells adhere to their surface, microcarriers are suspended in a three-dimensional environment, such as a bioreactor or stirred flask, to facilitate cell proliferation. The high surface area-to-volume ratio of microcarriers enables the cultivation of large cell populations within compact volumes, making them highly scalable and suitable for industrial applications, such as antibody and vaccine production. Moreover, the 3D suspension culture allows for process intensification and automation, surpassing the capabilities of traditional 2D systems.

The challenges of cell culturing

Adherent cell culturing faces several challenges, including:

• Scalability: Traditional methods are labor-intensive and challenging to scale.
• Low cell yield: Conventional, non-dissolvable microcarriers require aggressive detachment methods, leading to substantial cell loss. Typically, approximately 50% of cells perish during harvesting, while surviving cells often exhibit compromised viability.
• Batch-to-batch consistency: Variability in culture conditions, contamination risks and manual handling can reduce reproducibility. 

Although non-dissolvable microcarriers have improved cell culturing efficiency, their inherent limitations necessitate advancements. The detachment process, involving chelating agents, proteases and mechanical forces, often damages cells. In contrast, dissolvable microcarriers address these challenges by simplifying cell recovery and enhancing overall yield.