Award details

Sensor Integrated Biosensors (SIBs)

Reference	BB/J021369/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Jonathan Aylott
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Amir Ghaemmaghami, Professor Felicity Rose
Institution	University of Nottingham
Department	Sch of Pharmacy
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	208,916
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/07/2012
End date	30/06/2014
Duration	24 months

Abstract

We propose to develop sensor integrated bioreactors (SIBs) as a tool enabling researchers and producers of tissue constucts to monitor their development non-destructively during long-term culture (up to 28 days). The innovation in this proposal is the incorporation of advanced sensing, imaging and monitoring technologies into an existing state-of-the-art bioreactor system: Quasi-Vivo. The added functionality will allow for non-invasive, in situ monitoring of tissue constructs which will avoid the need to sacrifice experiments to collect data at each time point. The SIBs will be exploited by the enduser group established in this consortium, both to speed the development cycle of regenerative medicine products and improve the economics of production by providing a more closely controlled in-vitro model than is currently available. This project will deliver cell culture systems that provide faster growth of tissue, more accurate control of phenotype and improved efficiency through the ability to monitor tissue development non-destructively in a flow-through system. The system will be validated in a particular application for bone regeneration using RegenTec's ' injectable bone' scaffold. However the Quasi-Vivo bioreactors incorporating the Sensor Integrated Bioreactors (SIBs) technology developed in this project will have a wider range of application than just bone regeneration. The initial size of the bioreactor will be ideal for research applications but it has already been demonstrated that up to 36 Quasi-Vivo bioreactors can be operated in parallel making them inherently scaleable for stem cell propagation for clinical use.

Summary

Impact Summary

The beneficiaries of this industry-led research project will ultimately be the general public and UK plc. The 2 SMEs in the consortium will use the research undertaken to establish and enhance their market positions. Kirkstall will be able to enhance its product range by including the developed SIBs modules, while RegenTec will be able to use the SIBs prototypes to better understand their tissue construct's growth and gain an invaluable QA tool. In the longer term the SIBs modules can be operated in parallel making them inherently scaleable for stem cell propagation for clinical use. The larger companies that are involved in an advisory capacity in this consortium would also be beneficiaries of this research as they will have access to the new demonstrator technology and have input as to which priority applications the demonstrator should be developed for. The general public will benefit from the research as the greater understanding of regenerative medicine based technologies and improved quality control will accelerate the translation of regenerative medicine products from bench to bedside.

Committee	Research Committee A (Animal disease, health and welfare)
Research Topics	Industrial Biotechnology, Regenerative Biology, Stem Cells, Technology and Methods Development
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	Innovate UK (TSB) [2011-2015]
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

Associated awards:

BB/K000012/1 Sensor Integrated Bioreactors (SIBs)

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