Formulating media with macromolecular crowding

2020-2021

Drs. Che Connon and Ricardo Gouveia are exploring the potential of macromolecular crowding (MMC) to promote myoblast and fat cell proliferation and enhance the production yield and quality of cultivated meat.

PRODUCTION PLATFORM: Cultivated

TECHNOLOGY SECTOR:  Cell culture media

Gfi's competitive research grants program badge, featuring a whole cut of meat within a magnifying glass representing research

Project aims

This project designs new high-throughput platforms to test the impact of different media formulations on muscle cell proliferation and differentiation. It also custom designs new serum-free, MMC-supplemented media formulations for improved muscle cell proliferation and tissue formation.

This work aims to increase the cell density and yield of cultivated meat production, as well as reduce media costs and the need for growth factors.

Principal researchers

Gfi grantee dr. Che connon, professor of tissue engineering, newcastle university, uk

Dr. Che Connon

Professor of Tissue Engineering, Newcastle University, UK

Dr. Connon works on culturing cells toward self-organizing 3-D functional systems and possesses a strong track record of academic publications and commercialization.

Gfi grantee dr. Ricardo gouveia, research fellow, newcastle university, uk

Dr. Ricardo Gouveia

Research Fellow, Newcastle University, UK

Dr. Gouveia has expertise in culturing cells and developing high-throughput bioprocess techniques. He is also a New Harvest Fellow.

Microscope view of animal cells

Scale-up technologies for the manufacture of adherent cells

Check out this recent article from Dr. Connon on bioreactor scaling.

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