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Dos Santos FF, Nunes L, Martins C, Smith MA, Cardoso C. Single laboratory evaluation of umbilical cord blood units processing methodologies for banking. Lab Med 2024; 55:285-292. [PMID: 37566522 DOI: 10.1093/labmed/lmad073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the efficiency of 3 different processing methods (Sepax, AutoXpress [AXP], and manual processing with hydroxyethyl starch [HES] sedimentation) used at Stemlab during a 10-year period. METHODS Historical data were compiled and the analytical results obtained for the 3 different methods were compared. RESULTS The manual processing (HES) method yielded the highest level of total nucleated cell recovery after processing, and the AXP system yielded the highest CD34+ cell number. The red blood cell reduction was also significantly higher with the HES method. Also, HES showed comparable results to Toticyte technology for umbilical cord blood (UCB) processing. CONCLUSION These results show that the HES method is as effective as automated technologies for UCB volume reduction; hence, it is a suitable methodology for private and public UCB banks. The HES method also proved to be superior to Toticyte technology for medical applications, with higher recovery yields of total nucleated cells after thawing and equivalent CD34+ cell recovery and functionality.
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2
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Mukhamedshin A, Reddington RC, Dinh MTP, Abhishek K, Iqbal M, Manheim M, Gifford SC, Shevkoplyas SS. Rapid, label-free enrichment of lymphocytes in a closed system using a flow-through microfluidic device. Bioeng Transl Med 2024; 9:e10602. [PMID: 38193116 PMCID: PMC10771558 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The majority of adoptive cellular therapies are produced from peripheral mononuclear cells obtained via leukapheresis and further enriched for the cells of interest (e.g., T cells). Here, we present a first-of-its-kind closed system, which effectively removes ~85% of monocytes and ~88% of platelets, while recovering ~88% of concentrated T cells in a separate output stream, as the leukapheresis sample flows through a microfluidic device at 5 mL/min. The system is driven by a common peristaltic pump, enabled by a novel pressure wave dampener, and operates in a closed bag-to-bag configuration, without requiring any specialized, dedicated equipment. When compared to standard density gradient centrifugation on paired samples, the new system demonstrated a 1.5-fold increase in T cell recovery and a 2-fold reduction in inter-sample variability for this separation outcome. The T cell-to-monocyte ratio of the leukapheresis sample was increased to 20:1, whereas with density gradient processing it decreased to 2:1. As a result of superior purity and/or gentler processing, T cells enriched by the system showed a 2.7-times higher fold expansion during subsequent culture, and an overall 3.5-times higher cumulative yield. This centrifugation-free and label-free closed system for enriching lymphocytes could significantly simplify and standardize the manufacturing of life-saving cellular therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Mukhamedshin
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of HoustonHoustonTexasUSA
| | | | - Mai T. P. Dinh
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of HoustonHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Kumar Abhishek
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of HoustonHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Mubasher Iqbal
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of HoustonHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Marc Manheim
- Halcyon Biomedical, IncorporatedFriendswoodTexasUSA
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3
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Wynn L, Wilson MG, Leonforte C. Manufacturing of CD34 + HPC-enriched, high-purity mononuclear cell products from umbilical cord blood. Cell Tissue Bank 2023; 24:685-691. [PMID: 36735100 DOI: 10.1007/s10561-023-10070-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore methods of selectively enriching CD34 + haematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) in mononuclear cell (MNC) preparations, and to outline a procedure for cryopreservation and thawing of manufactured material. Density gradient centrifugation of umbilical cord blood was achieved using Ficoll-Paque™ media at 1.077 g/mL and 1.065 g/mL densities and Leucosep preparation tubes. Post-process samples were analysed for CD34 + and MNC content. Finally, MNCs were frozen down at a concentration of 8.5 × 106 cells/mL in CryoStor CS10 using an Asymptote VIAFreeze controlled rate freezer at a rate of - 2 °C per minute, then thawed and analysed for viability and recovery. Processing with 1.065 g/mL media selectively depleted non-HPC cell types, producing an approximately fourfold increase in CD34 + frequency (M ± 1SD = 1.4 ± 1.3%, P < 0.01) relative to the pre-process sample (M ± 1SD = 0.4 ± 0.3%), whereas 1.077 g/mL media produced only a twofold enrichment (0.7 ± 0.6, P < 0.01). This was not accompanied by any significant forfeit of CD34 + recovery (79 ± 32% vs. 78 ± 32% respectively; P = 0.87). The MNCs generated by the 1.065 g/mL procedure were of greater purity (96 ± 2%) than in the 1.077 g/mL procedure (80 ± 7%, P < 0.01). Post-thaw, MNC viability was 95 ± 1% and CD34 + viability was 98 ± 1%. Ultra-pure MNCs rich in CD34 + HPCs can be generated with a simple, inexpensive modification to Ficoll-Paque™ media. These products can be easily cryopreserved using a simple controlled rate freezing procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam Wynn
- Anthony Nolan Cell Therapy Centre, Nottingham, UK.
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4
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Abhishek K, Louis Sam Titus ASC, Dinh MTP, Mukhamedshin A, Mohan C, Gifford SC, Shevkoplyas SS. Red blood cell rosetting enables size-based separation of specific lymphocyte subsets from blood in a microfluidic device. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:1804-1815. [PMID: 36723024 PMCID: PMC10050098 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00817c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The isolation of a specific lymphocyte subset from blood is the required first step in the manufacturing of many novel cellular immunotherapies. Microfluidic size-based separation methods are poised to significantly simplify this process because they require neither centrifugation nor magnetic or fluorescent labeling to operate. Lymphocytes can be separated from red blood cells (RBCs) and platelets as well as monocytes and granulocytes because their size differs from each of these cell types. However, further separation of a specific lymphocyte subset from other unwanted lymphocytes using size-based methods is impossible because all lymphocytes have approximately the same size and can only be distinguished by surface markers. This paper describes a new approach that made it possible for a size-based separation method to isolate a desired subset of lymphocytes by making unwanted lymphocytes as well as other blood cells artificially larger. The separation was enabled by selectively binding multiple RBCs to each unwanted cell to create 'rosettes' with an effective size significantly larger than the diameter of a typical lymphocyte. The desired lymphocytes remained unaffected by rosetting and were separated from the rosettes by passing the mixture through a microfluidic size-based separation device based on controlled incremental filtration (CIF). This new rosette-enabled size-based (RESIZE) separation approach demonstrated recovery of 80-90% for all lymphocyte subsets tested (CD3+, CD4+, CD56+) which was ∼2.5-fold higher than that for the standard immunodensity method (RBC rosetting followed by density gradient centrifugation). The purity of separation was >90% for CD3+ cells but declined with increasing cell rarity. Unlike the immunodensity approach, RESIZE required neither centrifugation nor cell washing after the separation and was ∼2.5-fold faster when processing the same sample volume. The results of this study suggest that integration of the RESIZE approach for high-yield isolation of lymphocyte subsets from blood could significantly streamline the manufacturing workflow and thus have a potentially transformative impact on the cost and availability of novel cellular immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kumar Abhishek
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, 3605 Cullen Blvd, Houston, TX 77204-5060, USA.
| | | | - Mai T P Dinh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, 3605 Cullen Blvd, Houston, TX 77204-5060, USA.
| | - Anton Mukhamedshin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, 3605 Cullen Blvd, Houston, TX 77204-5060, USA.
| | - Chandra Mohan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, 3605 Cullen Blvd, Houston, TX 77204-5060, USA.
| | - Sean C Gifford
- Halcyon Biomedical Incorporated, Friendswood, TX 77546, USA
| | - Sergey S Shevkoplyas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, 3605 Cullen Blvd, Houston, TX 77204-5060, USA.
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5
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Álvarez-Palomo B, Veiga A, Raya A, Codinach M, Torrents S, Ponce Verdugo L, Rodriguez-Aierbe C, Cuellar L, Alenda R, Arbona C, Hernández-Maraver D, Fusté C, Querol S. Public Cord Blood Banks as a source of starting material for clinical grade HLA-homozygous induced pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cell Res Ther 2022; 13:408. [PMID: 35962457 PMCID: PMC9372949 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-022-02961-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The increasing number of clinical trials for induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cell therapy products makes the production on clinical grade iPSC more and more relevant and necessary. Cord blood banks are an ideal source of young, HLA-typed and virus screened starting material to produce HLA-homozygous iPSC lines for wide immune-compatibility allogenic cell therapy approaches. The production of such clinical grade iPSC lines (haplolines) involves particular attention to all steps since donor informed consent, cell procurement and a GMP-compliant cell isolation process. METHODS Homozygous cord blood units were identified and quality verified before recontacting donors for informed consent. CD34+ cells were purified from the mononuclear fraction isolated in a cell processor, by magnetic microbeads labelling and separation columns. RESULTS We obtained a median recovery of 20.0% of the collected pre-freezing CD34+, with a final product median viability of 99.1% and median purity of 83.5% of the post-thawed purified CD34+ population. CONCLUSIONS Here we describe our own experience, from unit selection and donor reconsenting, in generating a CD34+ cell product as a starting material to produce HLA-homozygous iPSC following a cost-effective and clinical grade-compliant procedure. These CD34+ cells are the basis for the Spanish bank of haplolines envisioned to serve as a source of cell products for clinical research and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belén Álvarez-Palomo
- Cell Therapy Service, Banc de Sang i Teixits, Edifici Dr. Frederic Duran i Jordà, Passeig de Taulat, 106-116, 08005, Barcelona, Spain. .,Transfusional Medicine Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Anna Veiga
- Programa de Medicina Regenerativa, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge. IDIBELL, Hospital Duran i Reynals, Gran Via de L'Hospitalet, 199-203, 08908, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Angel Raya
- Programa de Medicina Regenerativa, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge. IDIBELL, Hospital Duran i Reynals, Gran Via de L'Hospitalet, 199-203, 08908, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Margarita Codinach
- Cell Therapy Service, Banc de Sang i Teixits, Edifici Dr. Frederic Duran i Jordà, Passeig de Taulat, 106-116, 08005, Barcelona, Spain.,Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Torrents
- Cell Therapy Service, Banc de Sang i Teixits, Edifici Dr. Frederic Duran i Jordà, Passeig de Taulat, 106-116, 08005, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Ponce Verdugo
- Centro de Transfusión, Tejidos y Células de Málaga, Avda. Doctor Gálvez Ginachero s/n, 29009, Malaga, Spain
| | - Clara Rodriguez-Aierbe
- Basque Center for Blood Transfusion and Human Tissues, Osakidetza, Barrio Labeaga 46A, 48960, Galdakao, Spain.,Cell Therapy, Stem Cells and Tissues Group, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, 48903, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Leopoldo Cuellar
- Axencia Galega de Sangue, Órganos e Tecidos, Rúa Xoaquín Díaz de Rábago 2, 15705, Santiago, Spain
| | - Raquel Alenda
- Centro de Transfusión de la Comunidad de Madrid, Avda. de la Democracia, s/n, 28032, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Arbona
- Centro de Transfusión de la Comunidad Valenciana, Av. del Cid, 65-acc, 46014, Valencia, Spain.,Fundacion para el Fomento de la Investigación Sanitaria de la Comuitat Valenciana, Avda. de Catalunya, 21, 46020, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Cristina Fusté
- REDMO/Fundació i Institut de Recerca Josep Carreras, C/Muntaner, 383 2n, 08021, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergi Querol
- Cell Therapy Service, Banc de Sang i Teixits, Edifici Dr. Frederic Duran i Jordà, Passeig de Taulat, 106-116, 08005, Barcelona, Spain.,Transfusional Medicine Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
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6
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Abstract
Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Autologous chimeric antigen receptor engineered T-cell therapies are beginning to dramatically change the outlook for patients with several hematological malignancies. Yet methods to activate and expand these cells are limited, often pose challenges to automation, and have biological limitations impacting the output of the injectable dose. This study describes the development of a novel, highly flexible, soluble DNA-based T-cell activation and expansion platform which alleviates the limitations of current technologies and provides rapid T-cell activation and expansion.
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7
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Sanjuan-Gimenez JC, Morales ML, Carranza-Garcia I, Pino-Zumaquero AD, Hernández-Ruiz L, Villegas E. Development and qualification of a representative scale-down model of automated Ficoll-based processing of a cell-based therapeutic according to quality by design principles. Cytotherapy 2021; 23:953-959. [PMID: 34229963 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2021.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS This article describes the development of a small-scale model for Ficoll-based cell separation as part of process development of an advanced therapy medicinal product and its qualification. Because of the complexity of biological products, their manufacturing process as well as characterization and control needs to be accurately understood. Likewise, scale-down models serve as an indispensable tool for process development, characterization, optimization and validation. This scale-down model represents a cell processor device widely used in advance therapies. This approach is inteded to optimise resources and to focus its use on process characterisation studies under the paradigm of the Quality by design. A scale-down model should reflect the large manufacturing scale. Consequently, this simplified system should offer a high degree of control over the process parameters to depict a robust model, even considering the process limitations. For this reason, a model should be developed and qualified for the intended purpose. METHODS Process operating parameters were studied, and their resulting performance at full scale was used as a baseline to guide scale-down model development. Once the model was established, comparability runs were performed by establishing standard operating conditions with bone marrow samples. These analyses showed consistency between the bench and the large scale. Additionally, statistical analyses were employed to demonstrate equivalence. RESULTS The process performance indicators and assessed quality attributes were equivalent and fell into the acceptance ranges defined for the large-scale process. CONCLUSIONS This scale-down model is suitable for use in process characterization studies.
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8
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Babic A, Buchanan P, Gill A, Bloomquist J, Regan D, Bhatla D, Ferguson W. Analysis of outcomes of single-unit cord blood transplantation with umbilical cord blood units processed with two different red blood cell sedimentation reagents. Transfusion 2021; 61:1856-1866. [PMID: 34018206 DOI: 10.1111/trf.16428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Various processing methodologies are routinely used to reduce volume and red blood cell content of umbilical cord blood (UCB) units collected for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. There is limited information regarding effects of UCB processing techniques on clinical outcomes. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Retrospective data analysis compared laboratory and clinical outcomes following single-unit UCB transplantation performed between 1999 and 2015. All UCB units were from St. Louis Cord Blood Bank and all were manually processed with either Hetastarch processed cord blood units (HCB) (n = 661) or PrepaCyte processed cord blood units (PCB) (n = 84). Additional sensitivity analysis focused on units transplanted from 2010 to 2015 and included 105 HCB and 84 PCB. RESULTS There were no significant differences in patient characteristics between the two groups. Pre-freeze total nucleated and CD34+ cell counts, cell doses/kg of recipient weight, and total colony-forming units (CFUs) were higher in PCB compared with HCB. Post-thaw, the PCB group had a significantly better total nucleated cell recovery, while there were no significant differences in cell viability, CFU recovery, or CD34+ cell recovery. Primary analysis demonstrated faster neutrophil and platelet engraftment for PCB but no differences in overall survival (OS), whereas sensitivity analysis found no effect of processing method on engraftment, but better OS in the HCB group compared with PCB group. CONCLUSION The UCB processing method had no significant impact on engraftment. However, we cannot completely exclude the effect of processing method on OS. Additional studies may be warranted to investigate the potential impact of the PCB processing method on clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandar Babic
- St. Louis Cord Blood Bank, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, St Louis, Missouri, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Paula Buchanan
- Center for Health Outcomes Research, St Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Ammara Gill
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Adventist Health Rideout Cancer Center, Marysville, California, USA
| | - Jenni Bloomquist
- Clinical Data Quality, Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.,Customer Ready Products, National Marrow Donor Program, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Donna Regan
- Customer Ready Products, National Marrow Donor Program, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Deepika Bhatla
- Department of Pediatrics, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - William Ferguson
- St. Louis Cord Blood Bank, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, St Louis, Missouri, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
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9
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Fantin L, Olivieri CV, Spirito-Daffara F, Doglio A, Olivero S. A comparison of two protocols for optimal red blood cell depletion using Sepax-2 device for ABO-major incompatible transplantation in adults. Curr Res Transl Med 2019; 67:107-111. [PMID: 30935875 DOI: 10.1016/j.retram.2019.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Revised: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY In ABO-incompatible bone marrow transplantation, an efficient depletion of red blood cells (RBC) within the graft is mandatory to avoid adverse events in transplanted patients. Using non therapeutic products, we evaluated the substitution of the standard density gradient-based separation (DGBS) over Ficoll-Paque with the use of an automated procedure intended for buffy coat only (SmartRedux software) introducing modifications within the settings to achieve a drastic reduction of the initial volume of the product. Both methods were conducted on the Sepax-2 device. SAMPLES AND METHODS RBC depletion rates and CD34+ cells recoveries from eight procedures with SmartRedux software using "in-house" settings (method A) were compared to those obtained from four procedures using NeatCell software, an automated DGBS over Ficoll-Paque (method B). RESULTS Median erythrocyte depletion of 95,4% (92,7%-99,0%) and 99,8% (99,0%-99,9%) were observed using methods A and B, respectively. Median residual RBC volumes in the final product were 19 mL (4,4 mL-31,2 mL) and 0,7 mL (0,4 mL-4,7 mL), respectively (p = 0,014). CD34+ cells recoveries of 90,9% (62,7%-102,1%) and 78,4% (64,1%-86,2%) were achieved for methods A and B. Median platelet depletion was 16,6% (10%-42,7%) and 89,8% (88,5%-92,4%) using methods A and B, respectively (p = 0,004). Processing duration was shorter using method A (168 ± 29 min) than method B (295 ± 21 min) (p = 0,004). CONCLUSION Both methods achieved satisfactory erythrocyte depletion and CD34+ recovery. The use of Sepax-2 device in association with SmartRedux software could be extended to efficiently deplete RBC from large-volume BM in a raw instead of DGBS.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Fantin
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Unité de Thérapie Cellulaire et Génique, Nice, France
| | - C V Olivieri
- Université Côte d'Azur, EA 7354 MICORALIS, UFR Odontologie, Nice, France
| | - F Spirito-Daffara
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Unité de Thérapie Cellulaire et Génique, Nice, France
| | - A Doglio
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Unité de Thérapie Cellulaire et Génique, Nice, France; Université Côte d'Azur, EA 7354 MICORALIS, UFR Odontologie, Nice, France
| | - S Olivero
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Unité de Thérapie Cellulaire et Génique, Nice, France.
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10
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Strachan BC, Xia H, Vörös E, Gifford SC, Shevkoplyas SS. Improved expansion of T cells in culture when isolated with an equipment-free, high-throughput, flow-through microfluidic module versus traditional density gradient centrifugation. Cytotherapy 2019; 21:234-245. [PMID: 30660490 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2018.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Revised: 12/23/2018] [Accepted: 12/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The isolation of lymphocytes - and removal of platelets (PLTs) and red blood cells (RBCs) - from an initial blood sample prior to culture is a key enabling step for effective manufacture of cellular therapies. Unfortunately, currently available methods suffer from various drawbacks, including low cell recovery, need for complex equipment, potential loss of sterility and/or high materials/labor cost. METHODS A newly developed system for selectively concentrating leukocytes within precisely designed, but readily fabricated, microchannels was compared with conventional density gradient centrifugation with respect to: (i) ability to recover lymphocytes while removing PLTs/RBCs and (ii) growth rate and overall cell yield once expanded in culture. RESULTS In the optimal embodiment of the new microfluidic approach, recoveries of CD3+, CD19+ and CD56+ cells (85%, 89% and 97%, respectively) were significantly higher than for paired samples processed via gradient-based separation (51%, 53% and 40%). Although the removal of residual PLTs and RBCs was lower using the new approach, its enriched T-cell fraction nevertheless grew at a significantly higher rate than the gradient-isolated cells, with approximately twice the cumulative cell yield observed after 7 days of culture. DISCUSSION The standardization of each step of cellular therapy manufacturing would enable an accelerated translation of research breakthroughs into widely available clinical treatments. The high-throughput approach described in this study - requiring no ancillary pumping mechanism nor expensive disposables to operate - may be a viable candidate to standardize and streamline the initial isolation of lymphocytes for culture while also potentially shortening the time required for their expansion into a therapeutic dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Briony C Strachan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Hui Xia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Eszter Vörös
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Sean C Gifford
- Halcyon Biomedical Incorporated, Friendswood, Texas, USA
| | - Sergey S Shevkoplyas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA.
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11
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Dai X, Mei Y, Nie J, Bai Z. Scaling up the Manufacturing Process of Adoptive T Cell Immunotherapy. Biotechnol J 2019; 14:e1800239. [PMID: 30307117 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201800239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Adoptive T cell immunotherapy, involving the reprogramming of immune cells to target specific cancer or virus-infected cells, has been recognized as a promising novel approach for the treatment of complex diseases. The impressive global momentum of this therapeutic approach has highlighted the urgent need for establishing it as an effective and standardized onco-therapeutic approach in a large manufacturing scale. However, given its heterogeneity and uncertainty in nature, adoptive T cell immunotherapy is associated with a high failure rate that restricts its manufacturing to a limited number of institutions worldwide. It is undoubted that quite a few major challenges must be met before engineered T cells can be considered as a reliable, safe, and effective remedy for a broad range of diseases with global-wise patient benefits. Here, the fundamental challenges that as yet remain unsolved in the manufacturing process before adoptive T cell therapy can be considered as a key element in the next generation of precision medicine is reviewed. It is proposed that it is necessary to adopt a closed system, automation, cost-effective manufacturing model, and quality-by-design (QbD) strategy to enable scaled up manufacturing of adoptive T cell immunotherapy; and it is challenging to choose appropriate bioreactors, parameters, and infrastructure in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Dai
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.,Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Yi Mei
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.,School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Jianqi Nie
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Zhonghu Bai
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
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12
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Muñiz Alers SM, Page K, Simmons R, Waters-Pick B, Cheatham L, Troy JD, Kurtzberg J. Automated thawing increases recovery of colony-forming units from banked cord blood unit grafts. Transfusion 2018; 58:2911-2917. [PMID: 30307045 DOI: 10.1111/trf.14938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cell dose infused for cord blood transplantation strongly correlates with outcomes following transplantation. Post thaw recoveries can be improved by washing cord blood units (CBUs) in dextran/albumin. Early methods used a labor-intensive manual process. We have recently developed and validated an automated washing method. We now report our results of a study comparing cellular recoveries achieved after manual and automated wash, as well as the impact on engraftment following allogeneic transplantation. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS CBUs distributed by the Carolinas Cord Blood Bank for clinical use at Duke University after manual or automated wash were included in this report. Precryopreservation total nucleated cell count, total CD34+, colony-forming units, recoveries, and sterility were analyzed by wash method. Patient age, cell dose/weight, diagnosis, conditioning regimen, immunosuppression, and time to neutrophil engraftment were also analyzed. RESULTS Manual and automated washed CBUs yielded similar total nucleated cell count and total CD34+ recoveries. Significantly higher colony-forming units recoveries were achieved after automated washing. Patients who received CBUs washed via an automated method experienced earlier neutrophil engraftment. CONCLUSION While manual and automated washing achieved similar post thaw cellular recoveries, automated washed CBUs demonstrated higher colony-forming unit recovery, which is an important predictor of potency and engraftment. Furthermore, we demonstrated that automated washing was associated with earlier neutrophil engraftment. Our findings favor the use of an automated wash method over a manual approach.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kristin Page
- Marcus Center for Cellular Cures, Durham, North Carolina
- Carolinas Cord Blood Bank, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Ryan Simmons
- Marcus Center for Cellular Cures, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Barbara Waters-Pick
- Duke University Hospital Stem Cell Transplant Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Lynn Cheatham
- Marcus Center for Cellular Cures, Durham, North Carolina
- Carolinas Cord Blood Bank, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Jesse D Troy
- Marcus Center for Cellular Cures, Durham, North Carolina
- Carolinas Cord Blood Bank, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Joanne Kurtzberg
- Marcus Center for Cellular Cures, Durham, North Carolina
- Carolinas Cord Blood Bank, Durham, North Carolina
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13
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Chandramoorthy HC, Bajunaid AM, Kariri HN, Al-Hakami A, Sham AA, Al-Shahrani MBS, Al-Humayed SM, Rajagopalan P. Feasibility of cord blood bank in high altitude Abha: preclinical impacts. Cell Tissue Bank 2018; 19:413-422. [PMID: 29460118 DOI: 10.1007/s10561-018-9687-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
We explored the possibility of the cryo-storage of cord blood hematopoietic stem cells (CBHPSC) with respect to the quantity, quality and biologic efficacy of high altitude (HA) region Abha against sea level (SL) region. The results of the post-processed total nucleated cell count was 8.03 ± 0.31 × 107 and 8.44 ± 0.23 × 107 cells in the HA and SL regions respectively. The mean post processing viability of the nucleated cells was about 87.03 ± 1.39 (HA) and 88.33 ± 1.55% (SL) while post thaw cells were 85.61 ± 1.44 (HA) and 86.58 ± 1.61% (SL) after transient cryo-storage. The proliferation of CBHSCs after thawing were comparable between the HA and SL regions. The results of the colony forming unit (CFU) assays of CFU-E, CFU-GEMM, CFU-GM and BFU-E were comparable between HA and SL in both fresh and post thaw, while a declining trend with viability was significant. The differentiation capability of post thaw samples into adipocytes and osteocytes were comparable between HA and SL regions. Overall from the results, it can be evidenced that HA cord blood collection, processing or storage does not hinder the quality or biological efficacy of the CBHPSC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harish C Chandramoorthy
- Center for Stem Cell Research, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. .,Department of Microbiology and Clinical Parasitology, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
| | | | - Hussian Nasser Kariri
- Center for Stem Cell Research, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Al-Hakami
- Center for Stem Cell Research, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.,Department of Microbiology and Clinical Parasitology, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah Abu Sham
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Misfer Bin Safer Al-Shahrani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Suliman M Al-Humayed
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Prasanna Rajagopalan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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14
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Fesnak AD, Hanley PJ, Levine BL. Considerations in T Cell Therapy Product Development for B Cell Leukemia and Lymphoma Immunotherapy. Curr Hematol Malig Rep 2017; 12:335-343. [PMID: 28762038 PMCID: PMC5693739 DOI: 10.1007/s11899-017-0395-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Based on laboratory and clinical research findings and investments in immunotherapy by many institutions in academia, government-funded laboratories, and industry, there is tremendous and deserved excitement in the field of cell and gene therapy. In particular, understanding of immune-mediated control of cancer has created opportunities to develop new forms of therapies based on engineered T cells. Unlike conventional drugs or biologics, the source material for these new therapies is collected from the patient or donor. The next step is commonly either enrichment to deplete unwanted cells, or methods to positively select T cells prior to polyclonal expansion or antigen-specific expansion. As the first generation of engineered T cell therapies have demonstrated proof of concept, the next stages of development will require the integration of automated technologies to enable more consistent manufacturing and the ability to produce therapies for more patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D Fesnak
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-5156, USA.
| | - Patrick J Hanley
- Program for Cell Enhancement and Technologies for Immunotherapy, Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children's National Health System and The George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20010, USA
| | - Bruce L Levine
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-5156, USA
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