Descripción del proyecto
The aim of the StemStation project is to propose a novel strategy for human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) cultivation and production allowing to overcome the current limitations faced by manufacturers to develop efficient and scalable processes to answer the market demand. The main strategy is to exploit the inkjet bioprinting technology to manufacture MSCs-loaded microbeads of a hydrogel for cell expansion and production scale-up. This strategy will allow the on-demand fabrication of cell-loaded customized microbeads directly inside the bioreactor. Thus, StemStation is proposing an all-included production system for MSCs with a clear objective of shortening the expansion steps in a scale-up process. Such methodological and technological innovation has the potential to be further transferred to other adherent cell bioproduction systems. Current large-scale MSCs production strategies are strongly focused on solid microcarrier cultivation where cells are adhered on their surface. Such microcarriers are then suspended in production tanks where standard cultivation protocols must be specifically optimized. Such technologies are commonly limited by the cell source, the cell-microcarrier interaction, as well as the lack of an easy to handle, robust, transferable, and scalable process. STEMSTATION targets to overcome problematics by offering an original and innovative production strategy which will bring novel scientific knowledge in the field of bioproduction, stem cell growth, inkjet bioprinting, proliferative biomaterials, and clinical grade transfer of large-scale cultivation process of human MSCs.