.png?sfvrsn=1a7df424_3)
Animal Cell Bioprocessing
Transforming animal cell manufacturing processes
The Animal Cell Bioprocessing group focuses on cell culture media formulation and bioreactor process development to drive innovation in upstream biomanufacturing. We bridge research and industry by facilitating scalable manufacturing and commercialisation of animal cell-derived products, including recombinant proteins, viral vectors and vaccines. With access to BTI’s multidisciplinary capabilities, the team is well-positioned to transform animal cell manufacturing processes, to meet the growing demands of biomanufacturing industry.
Focus Areas
- Continuous / Perfusion bioreactor cultures
- Innovations in viral vector production and process development
- Media component screening and optimisation
Our Capabilities
Culture Media Development
Our team develops in-house serum free basal, feed, and perfusion media formulations to support diverse cultivation needs. With an automated liquid handling system, we can streamline screening kit preparation and cell culture processes for efficiency and precision. Additionally, in partnership with BTI’s Analytical Science & Technology (AS&T) research groups, media and process optimisation can be performed using multi-omics analysis.Scalable Process Development
We develop efficient, high-titre, and scalable animal cell cultivation processes that can be adapted from small-scale (10 mL) to pilot-scale (50 L) operations. This capability allows flexibility in upstream biomanufacturing to support scale-up for research and commercial applications..jpg?sfvrsn=72acee5_0 "Our Capabilities (resized)")
Process Design and Control
Our group employs both automated and manual sampling of bioreactor cultures to monitor critical process parameters in real time. Beyond traditional monitoring methods, our team integrates advanced process analytical technologies—such as Raman spectroscopy and capacitance-based biomass sensors—into bioreactor process development. We also optimise process parameter control and feeding strategies to improve product yield and quality.
Our Technologies
- Through our in-house media component screening platform, we have formulated several serum-free cell culture media tailored for different cell lines and cultivation modes. We are also looking into media optimisation strategies that can further enhance culture performance. For example, our group have identified maltose supplementation as an innovative approach to improve protein production in a serum-free mammalian cell culture.
.jpg?sfvrsn=2fbe5901_0 "Culture Media Development (resized)")
- We have established a scalable technology platform for adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors production, by systemically optimising the transient gene expression processes. This platform has been validated at 2L scale in-house and 50L scale with industry collaborators. In addition to AAV, our team is working with suspension lentiviral vector production and animal virus propagation processes, further expanding our capabilities in viral vector manufacturing.
.jpg?sfvrsn=4a492565_0 "AAV Process Development (resized)")
- Our group had developed a GS-KO (glutamine synthetase gene knockout) bioproduction system in HEK cell line for recombinant protein manufacturing in collaboration with GIS. Using erythropoietin as a model protein, we have achieved a production titre of 1g/L, demonstrating the system’s capability as an expression platform based on a human cell line.
.jpg?sfvrsn=6886ff6d_0 "GS-KO (resized)")
The Team
.jpg?sfvrsn=3d66e6f_0 "Ng Say Kong (resized)")
.jpg?sfvrsn=ffe9fa1a_0 "Evan Tan (resized)")
.jpg?sfvrsn=58eaa6d_0 "Eunice Leong (resized)")
.jpg?sfvrsn=3dd7d533_0 "Quek Jun Ping (resized)")
.jpg?sfvrsn=170d2c68_0 "Tan Yu Xuan (resized)")
Our Track Record
Featured Publications
- Jun Ping Quek, Azra Anwar Gaffoor, Yu Xuan Tan, Tessa Rui Min Tan, Yu Feng Chua, Dawn Sow Zong Leong, Alif Sufiyan Ali and Say Kong Ng (2024) Exploring cost reduction strategies for serum free media development. npj Science of Food 8: 10
- Jiayu Leong, Wen Qin Tang, Jake Chng, Wei Xuan Ler, Norhaizat Abdul Manan, Lyn Chiin Sim, Zi Ying Zheng, Wei Zhang, Ian Walsh, Gerben Zijlstra, Maarten Pennings and Say Kong Ng (2024) Biomass specific perfusion rate as a control lever for the continuous manufacturing of biosimilar monoclonal antibodies from CHO cell cultures. Biotechnology Journal 19(7): e2400092
- Evan Tan, Cara Sze Hui Chin, Zhi Feng Sherman Lim, Say Kong Ng (2021) HEK293 Cell Line as a Platform to Produce Recombinant Proteins and Viral Vectors. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 9: 796991
- Christine Lin Chin, Justin Bryan Goh, Harini Srinivasan, Kaiwen Ivy Liu, Ali Gowher, Raghuvaran Shanmugam, Hsueh Lee Lim, Matthew Choo, Wen Qin Tang, Andy Hee-Meng Tan, Terry Nguyen-Khuong, Meng How Tan and Say Kong Ng (2019) A human expression system based on HEK293 for the stable production of recombinant erythropoietin. Scientific Reports 9: 16768
- Dawn Sow Zong Leong, Brian Kah Hui Teo, Janice Gek Ling Tan, Hayati Kamari, Yuan Sheng Yang, Peiqing Zhang and Say Kong Ng (2018) Application of maltose as energy source in protein-free CHO-K1 culture to improve the production of recombinant monoclonal antibody. Scientific Reports 8: 4037
Landmark Patent & IP
- Method to increase protein yield in mammalian cells in serum-free culture medium (2017)
Connect with Us
A*STAR celebrates International Women's Day
From groundbreaking discoveries to cutting-edge research, our researchers are empowering the next generation of female science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) leaders.
Get inspired by our #WomeninSTEM