Opportunities

  • 28061 Recombinant protein expression enhancer

    The University of Sheffield has identified that knocking down the level of expression of a specific endogenous protein, ubiquitous in mammalian cells, results in a significant increase in recombinant protein production. This observation provides a novel route to increase recombinant protein production by mammalian cells either in rapid, transient format or potentially for continuous production from stably engineered cells.

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    Significant challenges remain in the production of proteins from mammalian cell expression systems and the ability to increase levels of recombinant protein production by mammalian cells would be an important advance for the biotechnology industry. The University of Sheffield has identified that knocking down the level of expression of a specific endogenous protein, ubiquitous in mammalian cells, results in a significant increase in recombinant protein production. This observation provides a novel route to increase recombinant protein production by mammalian cells either in rapid, transient format or potentially for continuous production from stably engineered cells.

    Knock-down of this single host cell protein results in a 4-5 fold increase in recombinant protein production during transient transfection of mammalian cells and the increase in expresion is observed for both secreted and non-secreted proteins.  It has been shown that the effect is independent of transfection reagent and target protein.

     

    Further information is available by downloading the PDF link below.

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  • 28013 - Transfer of cells using smart polymers

    This technology allows the development of a trypsin-free passaging system that could allow passage of stem cells without inducing differentiation, produces passaged cells with less damage than those treated by the traditional method and is useful in tissue engineering and is useful in tissue engineering, as it facilitates removal of cells without destroying the structure of the extracellular matrix.

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    Researchers at the University of Sheffield have developed a hyperbranched thermoresponsive polymer which is soluble in aqueous media below a critical emperature, known as the lower critical solution temperature (LCST). When the temperature of the media is raised above the LCST, the polymer forms primary particles which aggregate and, unlike other thermoresponsive polymers which form a solid mass, our polymer forms a colloidal dispersion of sub-micron particles. This property means that the cells can be contacted with the polymer particles at temperatures above the LCST, causing cells to adhere to the polymer. In order to release cells from the polymer, the temperature of the solution is simply decreased below the LCST. 

    This technology is the subject a patent application that discloses this polymer and its uses in an array of possible applications.  For further information please download the summary document below: 

     

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  • 27090 Low toxicity cellular stain

    A research group at the University of Sheffield has developed a series of novel chemical compounds suitable for live cellular staining applications with a unique combination of properties.

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    Researchers require a detailed understanding of the processes and control points involved in specific diseases from inherited disorders to cancer and infections. Although much work has been done using cell-free systems where individual enzymes are analysed in vitro, there are always caveats about the relevance of such data to whole cells or organisms.  Until recently cell biologists were restricted to studying static, fixed tissue sections, raising concerns around artefacts introduced by sample preparation.  New instruments allow cell biologists to study living cells and tissues, providing dynamic, real-time data.  This instrumentation requires new reagents, such as cell stains, matched to its capabilities.

    Currently available staining systems are far from ideal for the following reasons:

    • Most have low water solubilities.
    • Their cellular uptake can be low so that staining can only be accomplished in fixed cells.
    • Most stains tend to be toxic, thus stained cells are only viable for 30 - 60 minutes.
    • They often have poor signal/noise ratios.

     A research group at the University of Sheffield has developed a series of novel chemical compounds suitable for use as reagents for this new cell biology.  The compounds appear to be very suitable for live cellular staining applications and have a unique combination of properties, including:  

    • Very low toxicity, which allows for long-term culture studies on labelled cells
    • High solubility in water, avoiding the need for incompatible organic solvents that might affect cells
    • Unique optical properties that provide a high signal-to-noise ratio
    • Straight-forward to synthesise in a few chemical steps using readily-available precursors making them suitable for scale-up to commercial manufacture
    • Fluorescent light output is highly dependent on its environment - it produces different colours when bound to different structures within a cell.

     For further information please download the summary document below:  

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