Cells, such as stem cells, are frequently grown outside of the body for a variety of applications in research and medicine. As they grow and reach a critical mass, the cells have a tendency of clumping together, which can deprive the center cells of nutrients and oxygen. Thus, reducing the growth of the cells overall. To resolve this problem, typically a technician must use a pipette to manually break up the clumps. This process is labor- and time-intensive, adding to the overall cost of the project.
Researchers at The University of Alabama have developed a new technology that senses when the cellular mass has grown too large and automatically separates the large cluster of cells into manageable clumps that will continue to grow in a healthy way. This solution saves the lab time, energy, and money by automating the process. This technology can be used as a stand-alone product for labs that grow cells on a large scale such as stem cell research or tissue engineering. For industrial applications, this technology can be implemented with an existing bioreactor system; dissociated cells would be circulated back into the reactor.