Nexxus Scotland

A ‘Dead-Cert' winner

25 November 2009

Technology that acts as the vulture of cell culture - clearing away dead cells from populations of living cells grown in laboratories - has won the 2009 Nexxus Annual Life Science Award for Innovation (East). The technology, called Dead-Cert, increases the efficiency of experiments and the calibre of results in a range of scientific fields. 

Developed by Edinburgh-based ImmunoSolv, the Dead-Cert technology uses magnetic nanoparticles to gently remove dead and dying cells from laboratory cell populations, without trauma to living cells. This simple step can improve the quality of cells, and save time, effort, and resources in many different applications that require growing or maintaining populations of cells.

Applications may include speeding the revival of cells from frozen storage, and increasing yield of products grown by scientists in populations of cells, such as antibodies.

Other applications currently being explored for the nanotechnology which is central to the Dead- Cert technology include improving bioprocessing of therapeutic cells and proteins, as well as investigating its utility in stem cell research. The technology may also be applied in anti-cancer therapy in the future.  Targeting dying cells common in many malignant cancers may help activate the body's own tumour-fighting responses.

Dr Ruth Murray, ImmunoSolv's Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are absolutely delighted to receive this award and the recognition of our Dead-Cert technology as a truly innovative product. By improving the quality of cells for virtually any cell-based application, this innovative technology is set to revolutionise the manipulation, storage and culture of cells in the laboratory. It has taken several years to develop this product and we are very excited about its many applications, and its potential to revolutionise the way researchers deal with their cells. Having launched the research version of Dead-Cert nanoparticles, we are now focussing on developing the next level of the technology- a GMP version suitable for the production of therapeutic cells in regenerative medicine."

The Dead-Cert technology has three components: antibodies and polymers that can selectively bind to dead and dying cells; magnetic nanoparticles to which the antibody/polymer can be coupled; and a simple magnet. The coated nanoparticles attach to dead cells and debris and are then gently separated from the viable cell population when a magnetic field is applied.

When cells die in the human body they cause damage to their viable neighbours. Normally, specialised immune system cells clear away dead and damaged cells as part of a continual turnover and cleaning process, helping to keep the body healthy and functioning efficiently. In the laboratory, cell death happens, too, but no immune system is there to remove dead cells. The Dead-Cert technology fills this role, functioning as an effective surrogate for the immune system. The technology paves the way for more efficient experimentation for academic and commercial researchers, by more closely mimicking the healthy natural environment of human cells.

ImmunoSolv originated as a spin-out from the University of Edinburgh and the Dead-Cert technology is based on research by Chief Scientific Officer Christopher Gregory, Professor of Inflammatory Cell Biology and Deputy Director of the MRC Centre for Inflammation Research.  In June 2009, ImmunoSolv announced its first distribution deal to sell the technology to laboratories throughout the UK, and Dead-Cert is now sold globally.

For further information, contact Kate Fink, Marketing Communications Assistant, Nexxus T: 0131 200 6412, E : k.finkk@nexxuscotland.com  

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