Market Assessment for smart multifunctional microcarriers

在过去的十年里，由于全球癌症患病率的上升，人们对细胞疗法的认识不断增强，以及政府对细胞研究的资助增加，细胞疗法的全球市场得到了广泛的增长。然而，阻碍细胞疗法广泛应用的一个主要障碍是使用传统培养平台生产数十亿个功能细胞的相关成本。使用微载体进行大规模细胞生产是最近出现的一种很有前途的方法，可以克服传统细胞培养系统的局限性，然而，与体内软组织不同的高硬度和阻碍细胞表面扩张的挑战，需要酶将细胞从表面分离出来；这一过程可能会破坏表面蛋白质、细胞表型和功能，收获后细胞总产率较低。我们最近开发了获得专利的智能多功能微载体，它具有可调的机械性能，可以调整以匹配适合生长不同细胞的硬度。此外，这些微载体可以装载药物或氧气释放化合物，将生物活性分子和氧气输送到细胞表面。通过温度改变微载体的疏水性的能力使无酶细胞采集成为可能，这反过来可以减少酶促细胞采集的不利影响，并将为细胞提供更高的质量和功能。在这项I2I应用中，我们建议通过全面的市场评估来支持我们的多功能微载体的商业化，以a)估计市场规模，b)了解市场动态，c)调查最终用户和内容专家对购买和授权这项技术的兴趣，以及d)进行全面的竞争分析。为了实现这些目标，将聘请一名外部顾问进行一手和二手市场调查，然后进行调查。顾问的最终MA报告将重点介绍SWOT分析、市场规模、竞争分析、进入市场的障碍、调查结果和建议。这一项目的成果对这项技术的商业化至关重要。

The global market for cell therapy has been extensively grown over the past decade due to the rising global prevalence of cancer, growing awareness regarding cell therapies, and increasing government funding cell studies. However, a major barrier against the wide application of cell therapy is the cost associated with producing billions of functional cells using traditional culture platforms. Using microcarriers for large-scale cell production has been recently emerged as a promising approach to overcome the limitations of traditional cell culture systems, however, challenges associated with high stiffnesses that are different from the soft tissues in vivo and hinders cell expansion on their surfaces, the need enzymes to detach cells from the surface; a process that can damage surface proteins, cell phenotype, and function, low overall cell yield after harvesting. We have recently developed patented smart multifunctional microcarriers that have tunable mechanical properties that can be adjusted to match the stiffness that is suitable for growing different cells. Additionally, these microcarriers can be loaded with drugs or oxygen-releasing compounds to deliver bioactive molecules and oxygen to the cell surface. The ability to change the hydrophobicity of the microcarriers by temperature enables enzyme-free cell harvesting, which in return can reduce the adverse effects of enzymatic cell harvesting and will provide cells with higher quality and function. In this I2I application, we propose to support the commercialization of our multifunctional microcarriers through a comprehensive market assessment to a) estimate the market size, b) understand the market dynamics, c) probe for the end-users' and content experts' interest in buying and licensing this technology, and d) conduct a thorough competitive analysis. To meet these objectives, an external consultant will be hired to undertake primary and secondary market research followed by a survey. The final MA report from the consultant will highlight the SWOT analysis, market size, competitive analysis, barriers to market entry, results of the survey, and recommendations. The outcomes of this project essential for the commercialization of this technology.