A microcarrier is a support matrix that allows for the growth of adherent cells in bioreactors. Instead of on a flat surface, cells are cultured on the surface of spherical microcarriers so that each particle carries several hundred cells, and therefore expansion capacity can be multiplied several times over.[1] It provides a straightforward way to scale up culture systems for industrial production of cell or protein-based therapies, or for research purposes.[2][3]
These solid or porous spherical matrices range anywhere between 100-300 um in diameter to allow sufficient surface area while retaining enough cell adhesion and support, and their density is minimally above that of water (1 g/ml) so that they remain in suspension in a stirred tank.[1][4] They can be composed of either synthetic materials such as acrylamide or natural materials such as gelatin.[2][3]
The advantages of microcarrier technology in the biotech industry include (a) ease of scale-up, (b) ability to precisely control cell growth conditions in sophisticated, computer-controlled bioreactors, (c) an overall reduction in the floor space and incubator volume required for a given-sized manufacturing operation, (d) a drastic reduction in technician labor, and (e) a more natural environment for cell culture that promotes differentiation.[5]
Human iPSCs cultured on microcarriers in a spinner flask.
^ abPetry F, Salzig D (2021). "Impact of Bioreactor Geometry on Mesenchymal Stem Cell Production in Stirred-Tank Bioreactors". Chemie Ingenieur Technik. 93 (10): 1537–1554. doi:10.1002/cite.202100041. ISSN 1522-2640. S2CID 238704820.
^ abChen AK, Reuveny S, Oh SK (November 2013). "Application of human mesenchymal and pluripotent stem cell microcarrier cultures in cellular therapy: achievements and future direction". Biotechnology Advances. Stem Cell Engineering. 31 (7): 1032–1046. doi:10.1016/j.biotechadv.2013.03.006. PMID 23531528.
^ abLi B, Wang X, Wang Y, Gou W, Yuan X, Peng J, et al. (April 2015). "Past, present, and future of microcarrier-based tissue engineering". Journal of Orthopaedic Translation. 3 (2): 51–57. doi:10.1016/j.jot.2015.02.003. PMC 5982391. PMID 30035040.
^Tsai AC, Pacak CA (July 2021). "Bioprocessing of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells: From Planar Culture to Microcarrier-Based Bioreactors". Bioengineering. 8 (7): 96. doi:10.3390/bioengineering8070096. PMC 8301102. PMID 34356203.
^Badenes SM, Fernandes TG, Rodrigues CA, Diogo MM, Cabral JM (September 2016). "Microcarrier-based platforms for in vitro expansion and differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells in bioreactor culture systems". Journal of Biotechnology. 234: 71–82. doi:10.1016/j.jbiotec.2016.07.023. PMID 27480342.
A microcarrier is a support matrix that allows for the growth of adherent cells in bioreactors. Instead of on a flat surface, cells are cultured on the...
chromatographically purified Vero cell rabies vaccine (PVRV) in China using microcarrier technology". Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics. 8 (9): 1230–1235. doi:10...
biomolecular characterization, chromatography hardware and resins, microcarriers and particle validation standards businesses to Sartorius AG for approximately...
assembly was used to engineer 3D neural networks from neuron-seeded microcarrier beads. Neural interfaces are a major element used for studying neural...
can be used for cells that require attachment to another surface if microcarriers are included. Fixed bed bioreactors are commonly used for adherent cultures...
engineered vessels to analyze vascular permeability Dextran is used to make microcarriers for industrial cell culture Orally-administered dextran sodium sulphate...
Diogo, Maria M.; Cabral, Joaquim M.S. (15 October 2018). "Dissolvable Microcarriers Allow Scalable Expansion And Harvesting Of Human Induced Pluripotent...
A.; Freeman, E.; Mizrahi, A. (Feb 1982). "DE-52 and DE-53 Cellulose Microcarriers: I. Growth of Primary and Established Anchorage-Dependent Cells". In...
Adherent cells require a surface, such as tissue culture plastic or microcarrier, which may be coated with extracellular matrix (such as collagen and...
function. Research is being done to grow adherent cell cultures using 3D microcarriers in order to avoid this limitation and to use adherent cell cultures...
Diogo, Maria M.; Cabral, Joaquim M.S. (October 15, 2018). "Dissolvable Microcarriers Allow Scalable Expansion And Harvesting Of Human Induced Pluripotent...
S.-H. Kim, and S.-M. Yang, Elaborate Design Strategies Toward Novel Microcarriers for Controlled Encapsulation and Release. Particle & Particle Systems...
1986). "Replacement of liver function in rats by transplantation of microcarrier-attached hepatocytes". Science. 233 (4769): 1190–1192. Bibcode:1986Sci...
MRI contrasts, it has been shown to be possible to tag a therapeutic microcarrier with a radiolabeled or fluorescent molecule that can then be excited...
Nov 19. http://www.bioprocessintl.com/manufacturing/cell-therapies/expansion-human-mesenchymal-stem-cells-using-microcarriers-human-platelet-lysate/...
up to the industrial level, is unfeasible. The alternative is to use microcarriers, which are small pieces of material that float in the culture medium...
(1982). "Growth of endothelial and HeLa cells on a new multipurpose microcarrier that is positive, negative or collagen coated". Tissue and Cell. 4 (1):...
protein-binding matrices for column chromatography applications and for microcarrier cell culture technology. However, it has not been until recently that...
findings. 16 March – Scientists report the first successful use of microcarriers to bring anti-cancer drugs to the targeted area in the liver of a living...
factors, such as TGF-β1-3, into delivery systems as well as served as microcarriers for chondrocyte expansion. Gelatin microparticles have also been incorporated...
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