Dynamic expansion of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells in a stirred tank bioreactor promotes the release of potent extracellular vesicles

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) are considered a promising therapeutic tool in cell therapy due to their immunomodulatory, regenerative and angiogenic capabilities. However, there is a lack of process knowledge, particularly for a large-scale production of MSC-...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jan Barekzai, Jonas Friedrich, Maduwuike Okpara, Laura Refflinghaus, Dustin Eckhardt, Peter Czermak, Denise Salzig
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIMS Press 2023-09-01
Series:AIMS Bioengineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/bioeng.2023016?viewType=HTML
_version_ 1797657829921783808
author Jan Barekzai
Jonas Friedrich
Maduwuike Okpara
Laura Refflinghaus
Dustin Eckhardt
Peter Czermak
Denise Salzig
author_facet Jan Barekzai
Jonas Friedrich
Maduwuike Okpara
Laura Refflinghaus
Dustin Eckhardt
Peter Czermak
Denise Salzig
author_sort Jan Barekzai
collection DOAJ
description Mesenchymal stem/stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) are considered a promising therapeutic tool in cell therapy due to their immunomodulatory, regenerative and angiogenic capabilities. However, there is a lack of process knowledge, particularly for a large-scale production of MSC-EV using fully controlled stirred tank bioreactor (STR) systems. For the establishment of a STR-based process, we investigated dynamic process set-ups in spinner flasks, using three different microcarriers, as well as in shaking flasks, using microcarrier-free spheroids. An immortalized cell line (hMSC-TERT) and a particle-free chemically defined medium was used for all approaches. Cell characteristics (e.g., growth, metabolism, cell-specific particle production rates), MSC-EV epitope markers and MSC-EV potency in migration assays were analyzed. We showed that the transfer to a dynamic system (non-porous microcarrier, spinner flask) significantly increased the cell-specific particle production rate (6-fold) and the expression of EV-specific markers. Moreover, MSC proliferation and, most importantly, the therapeutic potency of MSC-derived particles including EVs was maintained. We demonstrated that high cell-specific particle production rates were associated with an increased glucose consumption rate rather than cell growth, which can be utilized for future process development. Furthermore, we showed that dynamic conditions of a controlled 1 L STR significantly increased the cell-specific particle production rate (24-fold) as well as the final concentration (3-fold) of potent MSC-derived particles including EVs. This indicates that fully controlled STRs are an efficient production system for MSC-derived particles including EVs that may open and facilitate the path for clinical applications.
first_indexed 2024-03-11T17:50:20Z
format Article
id doaj.art-bc8f83580e054c8b992062ede4f4d8bb
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2375-1495
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-11T17:50:20Z
publishDate 2023-09-01
publisher AIMS Press
record_format Article
series AIMS Bioengineering
spelling doaj.art-bc8f83580e054c8b992062ede4f4d8bb2023-10-18T06:15:25ZengAIMS PressAIMS Bioengineering2375-14952023-09-0110324026410.3934/bioeng.2023016Dynamic expansion of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells in a stirred tank bioreactor promotes the release of potent extracellular vesiclesJan Barekzai 0Jonas Friedrich1Maduwuike Okpara2Laura Refflinghaus3Dustin Eckhardt4Peter Czermak5Denise Salzig61. Institute of Bioprocess Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Applied Sciences Mittelhessen, 35390 Giessen, Germany1. Institute of Bioprocess Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Applied Sciences Mittelhessen, 35390 Giessen, Germany1. Institute of Bioprocess Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Applied Sciences Mittelhessen, 35390 Giessen, Germany1. Institute of Bioprocess Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Applied Sciences Mittelhessen, 35390 Giessen, Germany1. Institute of Bioprocess Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Applied Sciences Mittelhessen, 35390 Giessen, Germany1. Institute of Bioprocess Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Applied Sciences Mittelhessen, 35390 Giessen, Germany 2. Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, 35390 Giessen, Germany1. Institute of Bioprocess Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Applied Sciences Mittelhessen, 35390 Giessen, Germany 2. Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, 35390 Giessen, GermanyMesenchymal stem/stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) are considered a promising therapeutic tool in cell therapy due to their immunomodulatory, regenerative and angiogenic capabilities. However, there is a lack of process knowledge, particularly for a large-scale production of MSC-EV using fully controlled stirred tank bioreactor (STR) systems. For the establishment of a STR-based process, we investigated dynamic process set-ups in spinner flasks, using three different microcarriers, as well as in shaking flasks, using microcarrier-free spheroids. An immortalized cell line (hMSC-TERT) and a particle-free chemically defined medium was used for all approaches. Cell characteristics (e.g., growth, metabolism, cell-specific particle production rates), MSC-EV epitope markers and MSC-EV potency in migration assays were analyzed. We showed that the transfer to a dynamic system (non-porous microcarrier, spinner flask) significantly increased the cell-specific particle production rate (6-fold) and the expression of EV-specific markers. Moreover, MSC proliferation and, most importantly, the therapeutic potency of MSC-derived particles including EVs was maintained. We demonstrated that high cell-specific particle production rates were associated with an increased glucose consumption rate rather than cell growth, which can be utilized for future process development. Furthermore, we showed that dynamic conditions of a controlled 1 L STR significantly increased the cell-specific particle production rate (24-fold) as well as the final concentration (3-fold) of potent MSC-derived particles including EVs. This indicates that fully controlled STRs are an efficient production system for MSC-derived particles including EVs that may open and facilitate the path for clinical applications.https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/bioeng.2023016?viewType=HTMLpotent ev productionmicrocarrier-based processlarge-scale msc-ev productionscratch assayev analysis
spellingShingle Jan Barekzai
Jonas Friedrich
Maduwuike Okpara
Laura Refflinghaus
Dustin Eckhardt
Peter Czermak
Denise Salzig
Dynamic expansion of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells in a stirred tank bioreactor promotes the release of potent extracellular vesicles
AIMS Bioengineering
potent ev production
microcarrier-based process
large-scale msc-ev production
scratch assay
ev analysis
title Dynamic expansion of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells in a stirred tank bioreactor promotes the release of potent extracellular vesicles
title_full Dynamic expansion of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells in a stirred tank bioreactor promotes the release of potent extracellular vesicles
title_fullStr Dynamic expansion of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells in a stirred tank bioreactor promotes the release of potent extracellular vesicles
title_full_unstemmed Dynamic expansion of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells in a stirred tank bioreactor promotes the release of potent extracellular vesicles
title_short Dynamic expansion of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells in a stirred tank bioreactor promotes the release of potent extracellular vesicles
title_sort dynamic expansion of mesenchymal stem stromal cells in a stirred tank bioreactor promotes the release of potent extracellular vesicles
topic potent ev production
microcarrier-based process
large-scale msc-ev production
scratch assay
ev analysis
url https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/bioeng.2023016?viewType=HTML
work_keys_str_mv AT janbarekzai dynamicexpansionofmesenchymalstemstromalcellsinastirredtankbioreactorpromotesthereleaseofpotentextracellularvesicles
AT jonasfriedrich dynamicexpansionofmesenchymalstemstromalcellsinastirredtankbioreactorpromotesthereleaseofpotentextracellularvesicles
AT maduwuikeokpara dynamicexpansionofmesenchymalstemstromalcellsinastirredtankbioreactorpromotesthereleaseofpotentextracellularvesicles
AT laurarefflinghaus dynamicexpansionofmesenchymalstemstromalcellsinastirredtankbioreactorpromotesthereleaseofpotentextracellularvesicles
AT dustineckhardt dynamicexpansionofmesenchymalstemstromalcellsinastirredtankbioreactorpromotesthereleaseofpotentextracellularvesicles
AT peterczermak dynamicexpansionofmesenchymalstemstromalcellsinastirredtankbioreactorpromotesthereleaseofpotentextracellularvesicles
AT denisesalzig dynamicexpansionofmesenchymalstemstromalcellsinastirredtankbioreactorpromotesthereleaseofpotentextracellularvesicles