Funded Research

Develop plant-based microcarrier compositions for expanding DSCs and fibroblasts in dynamic culture

Host institution

University of Victoria

Research location

University of Victoria

Supervisor

Mohsen Akbari

CO-lEad

Dermal Sheath Cells (DSc) hold significant promise in regenerative medicine, particularly for hair follicle regeneration and wound healing. However, scalable production remains a challenge. Microcarrier-based culture systems present a viable solution, with the type of microcarrier and culture conditions being critical for optimizing cell yield, viability, and functionality.

This project aims to develop digestable microcarriers made from plant-based resources to facilitate large-scale cultivation of DSc.

The intern, currently a visiting PhD student at the University of Victoria, has extensive experience in cell culture and biomanufacturing. In this project, the intern will gain valuable experience in:

  • Biomaterial synthesis and extraction from plant-based resources
  • Microfluidic technology for producing microcarriers
  • Dynamic culture of therapeutic cells using microcarriers
  • Problem-solving and adapting protocols for industrial-scale production

The project will benefit the company by:

  • Advancing research and development of novel regenerative medicine therapies.
  • Enhancing production scalability and cost-efficiency through innovative culture technologies.
  • Strengthening the company’s position as a leader in biotechnological advancements for therapeutic applications.

Overall, this internship project aims to develop optimized protocols that leverage the therapeutic potential of DSc, contributing to both scientific progress and practical applications in regenerative medicine. This effort is expected to improve cell culture conditions and overall product quality.

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Funded research