Bioprocess Design for Large-Scale Organoid Expansion

An organoid is a three-dimensional, multicellular structure, that when grown in vitro successfully recapitulates tissue specific structure and function. Organoids contain all of the key cell types of their tissue of origin: stem cells, allowing extended culture of structures, and differentiated cells, retaining physiologically relevant functions. Moreover, organoids can be grown from diseased tissues, retaining pathology and tumour heterogeneity, and exhibit tumour specific functions, such as cancer cell invasion. Organoid technology has the potential to transform drug discovery; improving predictive efficacy and toxicity assays and reducing and replacing the use of animal models early in the drug discovery pipeline. However, the production of organoids for use in such medium to high throughput drug discovery assays is currently highly time consuming and labour intensive, with batch-to-batch variation of organoids limiting assay reproducibility. Cellesce Ltd are currently developing bioprocessing systems for the growth and expansion of patient-derived organoids in significant volumes; ensuring batch-batch reproducibility and consistency of response to treatment, while minimizing manual handling time and costs. Cellesce’s unique bioprocessing capability leverages the combined expertise of scientists from the University of Bath and Cardiff University. We are currently expanding human colorectal cancer organoids, with plans to include organoids from other tissues in due course, with the long-term goal of positioning organoid technology as a cost-effective and accurate alternative to animal testing in early-stage drug discovery.