A digital microfluidic platform for high yield CHO cell line detection and culture

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

In this NSERC Alliance proposal, Sartorius Canada, Sanofi Pasteur, and the Wheeler research group at the University of Toronto propose to work together to explore the development of digital microfluidic technologies for lead candidate identification and screening of therapeutic protein production from a model cell line (Chinese Hamster Ovary, or "CHO" cells). We are an ideal team to pursue this project, as Sartorius Canada is a market leader in the development of instrumentation that is used in the production of therapeutic proteins, Sanofi Pasteur is one of the top vaccine-producers in the world, and the Wheeler group has a long track record in automating cell culture and analysis using the unique platform that is known as digital microfluidics (DMF). We propose to develop new DMF-enabled systems that allow for the optimization of CHO cell production of monoclonal antibodies, recombinant vaccine proteins, and other important bioproducts. The key deliverable of this work is a platform that could eventually serve as the basis for a Sartorius product that will allow end-users such as Sanofi Pasteur to automate CHO cell culture to identify high-performing cells and/or optimal media formulations which lead to the highest protein yield, which will increase efficiency and profitability. This application represents the beginning of what may eventually become an important Canadian story - the development of digital microfluidic systems for efficient protein production in CHO cells. We thank NSERC in advance for potential support of this nascent effort, which could lead to important benefits for Canadians and others around the world.