High-throughput cell quantification assays for use in cell purification development - enabling technologies for cell production

Cell Separation in Aqueous Two-Phase Systems - Influence of Polymer Molecular Weight and Tie-Line Length on the Resolution of Five Model Cell Lines

The availability of clinical-scale downstream processing strategies for cell-based products presents a critical juncture between basic research and clinical development. Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) facilitate the label-free, scalable, and cost-effective separation of cells, and are a versatile tool for downstream processing of cell-based therapeutics. Here, we report the application of a previously developed robotic screening platform, here extended to enable a multiplexed high-throughput cell partitioning analysis in ATPS. We investigated the influence of polymer molecular weight and tie-line length on the resolution of five model cell lines in "charge-sensitive" polyethylene-glycol (PEG)-dextran ATPS. We show, how these factors influence cell partitioning, and that the combination of low molecular weight PEGs and high molecular weight dextrans enable the highest resolution of the five cell lines. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the separability of each cell line from the mixture is highly dependent on the polymer molecular weight composition and tie-line length. Using a countercurrent distribution model we demonstrate that our screenings yielded conditions that theoretically enable the isolation of four of the five cell lines with high purity (>99.9%) and yield.

High-throughput downstream process development for cell-based products using aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) - A case study

The availability of preparative-scale downstream processing strategies for cell-based products presents a critical juncture between fundamental research and clinical development. Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) present a gentle, scalable, label-free, and cost-effective method for cell purification, and are thus a promising tool for downstream processing of cell-based therapeutics. Here, the application of a previously developed robotic screening platform that enables high-throughput cell partitioning analysis in ATPS is reported. In the present case study a purification strategy for two model cell lines based on high-throughput screening (HTS)-data and countercurrent distribution (CCD)-modeling, and validated the CCD-model experimentally is designed. The obtained data are shown an excellent congruence between CCD-model and experimental data, indicating that CCD-models in combination with HTS-data are a powerful tool in downstream process development. Finally, the authors are shown that while cell cycle phase significantly influences cell partitioning, cell type specific differences in surface properties are the main driving force in charge-dependent separation of HL-60 and L929 cells. In order to design a highly robust purification process it is, however, advisable to maintain constant growth conditions.

High-throughput downstream process development for cell-based products using aqueous two-phase systems

As the clinical development of cell-based therapeutics has evolved immensely within the past years, downstream processing strategies become more relevant than ever. Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) enable the label-free, scalable, and cost-effective separation of cells, making them a promising tool for downstream processing of cell-based therapeutics. Here, we report the development of an automated robotic screening that enables high-throughput cell partitioning analysis in ATPS. We demonstrate that this setup enables fast and systematic investigation of factors influencing cell partitioning. Moreover, we examined and optimized separation conditions for the differentiable promyelocytic cell line HL-60 and used a counter-current distribution-model to investigate optimal separation conditions for a multi-stage purification process. Finally, we show that the separation of CD11b-positive and CD11b-negative HL-60 cells is possible after partial DMSO-mediated differentiation towards the granulocytic lineage. The modeling data indicate that complete peak separation is possible with 30 transfers, and >93% of CD11b-positive HL-60 cells can be recovered with >99% purity. The here described screening platform facilitates faster, cheaper, and more directed downstream process development for cell-based therapeutics and presents a powerful tool for translational research.