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Our Capabilities
Cell Processing
Investigate different cell processing technologies from 2D/3D cell expansion to cell stimulation by using both single-use technologies and automated systems.
ASEPTIC FLUID HANDLING & MANAGEMENT
Sterile and effective fluid handling steps with customised closed manifolds to accommodate diverse biomanufacturing requirements and applications.
AUTOMATED SAMPLE PREPARATION & MONITORING
Sample preparation with real-time product monitoring and integration of automated modules for dilution, dispensing, and protein measurement. Implementing advanced Process Analytical Technologies (PAT) in bioprocessing.
TISSUE BIOMANUFACTURING & CHARACTERIZATION
Developing biomimetic functional tissue products starts from material selection to fabrication, followed by detailed biomaterial/scaffold physical-chemical characterisations and rigorous in vitro/in vivo validations.
BIOFABRICATION PLATFORMS
Customise biomaterials to create desired shapes and configurations at scale. Biofabrication methods like bioprinting, electrospinning, stereolithography, roll-to-roll (R2R) printing, and freeze-drying enable applications in cell therapy, cellular agriculture, regenerative medicine and synthetic biology.
TUNABLE NATURAL HYDROGEL FORMULATIONS
Transform naturally sourced biomaterials into versatile forms of hydrogel for diverse applications, including regenerative medicine, cell therapy, drug screening and cultivated meat. These hydrogels can be shaped into coatings, microbeads, fibres and sheets of varying sizes from a few millimetres to a few centimetres.
DEVELOPMENT OF MICROTISSUE MODELS
Developing cost-effective microtissue models like spheroids/organoids and organ-on-chip platforms. These models mimic organ function using 3D microtissues/organ constructs, benefiting drug testing, disease modelling, alternative proteins and biological studies.
Our Technologies
“cGMP-IN-A-BOX” - AUTOMATED AND FUNCTIONALLY CLOSED BIOREACTOR SYSTEM FOR DECENTRALIZED CELL THERAPY MANUFACTURING
- Automated: Automated cell and medium inoculation, medium change, sampling and harvesting
- Functionally closed: Minimum contamination risk in room condition
- Scalable: Direct process transfer from process development to manufacturing
AUTOMATED ASEPTIC SAMPLER SYSTEM FOR ONLINE SMALL-VOLUME CULTURE SAMPLING
- Automated and Aseptic: Programmable tubing and and valve system tested for aseptic culture sampling during cell therapy manufacturing
- Small volume sampling with zero dead-volume: Sample volume as low as 20µl
- Integrable: Able to be integrated with different culture vessels or bioreactor systems
DECELLULARIZED EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX (DECM) REACTOR
- Scalable, Clean and Compact: Able to decellularize animal, human, plant and fungi samples (50-400 g)
- Process Monitoring: Process controls employed to regulate the progress and optimize yield
- Application Focus: Cultivated meat and regenerative medicine applications
EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX (ECM) SPONGE
- Biofabrication: Enables biofabrication of natural biomaterial into a porous sponge-like scaffold for tissue manufacturing applications
- Controllable: Range of pore size and the degradation rate of the cell culture scaffolds adjustable to match structure and regenerative speed of the different tissues
EDIBLE SCAFFOLDS FOR CULTIVATED MEAT
- Microarchitecture: Access and exploit microarchitecture and morphologies in plants
- Applicable: To various species, including plants, fungi, and fruits, highly versatile
- Configurable: Readily shaped into various forms and sizes to fit to culture configurations
Our Track Record
Featured publications:
- Wee Swan Yap, Deepak Choudhury and Ratima Suntornnond (2023) Towards biomanufacturing of cultured meat. Trends in Biotechnology 41(3):292-294
- Sixun Chen, Ahmad Amirul Bin Abdul Rahim, Who‑Whong Wang, Rachael Cheong, Akshaya V. Prabhu, Jerome Zu Yao Tan, May Win Naing, Han Chong Toh & Dan Liu (2022) In-Situ Scalable Manufacturing of Epstein–Barr Virus-Specific T-Cells Using Bioreactor with an Expandable Culture Area (BECA). Scientific Reports 12: 7045
- Ying Ying Wu, Jia Sheng Zach Lee, Sixun Chen and Dan Liu (2022) Sterile Fluid Transfer for Cell Therapy Manufacturing-The Value of Multiple-Use Aseptic Connector. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology-Biomaterials 9: 806677
- Weng Wan Chan, Fang Yu, Quang Bach Le, Sixun Chen, Marcus Yee and Deepak Choudhury (2021) Towards Biomanufacturing of Cell-Derived Matrices International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22(21): 11929
- Ying Y Wu, Dan Liu and May W Naing (2021) Development of A Closed and Automated Bioreactor Technology for Cell Therapy Manufacturing - A Sharing of Our Journey Regenerative Medicine 15(12) Commentary
- Harish K. Handral , Shi Hua Tay, Weng Wan Chan and Deepak Choudhury (2020) 3D Printing of cultured meat products. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 1-10
- Liu Dan, Chen Sixun and May Win Naing (2020) A Review of Manufacturing Capabilities of Cell Spheroid Generation Technologies and Future Development. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 118(2): 542-554
- Deepak Choudhury, Marcus Yee, Zach Lee Jia Sheng, Ahmad Amirul and May Win Naing (2020) Decellularization systems and devices: State-of-the-art. Acta Biomaterialia 115: 51–59
Landmark Patent & IP:
- Connector Component And Connector System (2022)
- Liquid Sampling Device (2022)
- Methods and apparatus for decellularization of biological tissues and organs (2022)
- Device for cell culture and method for culturing cells (2018)
- Method And System For Monitoring Activity Of An Animal (2015)
The Team
Dr Deepak Choudhury
deepak_choudhury@bti.a-star.edu.sg
Principal Scientist I
PhD in Bioengineering (2012), National University of Singapore, Singapore
Research Focus / Interest
- Biomanufacturing process/platform development for biomaterials extraction from animals, plants, bacteria, algae, and fungi
- Development of scaffolds/substrates/inks for regenerative medicine and cultivated meat manufacturing
- Scale-up spinning, patterning, and printing of biomaterials
- Development of tissue manufacturing devices and platforms including Organ-on-Chips
Dr Liu Dan
liu_dan@bti.a-star.edu.sg
Senior Scientist II
PhD in Tissue Engineering (2012), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Research Focus / Interest
- Single-use technologies
- Devices for scaling-up and –out of cell therapy and cell-derived product manufacturing,
- Devices for biological, bioprocessing and biomedical applications
Dr Chen Sixun
chen_sixun@bti.a-star.edu.sg
Senior Scientist I
PhD in Chemical Biology (2017), Harvard University, United States of America
Research Focus / Interest
- Process optimization and validation in bio-manufacturing
- Scaling of bioprocess for manufacturing
Dr Le Quang Bach
quang_bach_le@bti.a-star.edu.sg
Senior Scientist I
PhD in Biomedical Engineering (2018), University of Maastricht, The Netherlands
Research Focus / Interest
- Developing cell-derived matrix platforms for tissue manufacturing
- Development of biomaterial formulations/hydrogels/bioinks
- Medical devices for orthopaedic applications
Dr Ratima Suntornnond
ratima_suntornnond@bti.a-star.edu.sg
Scientist
PhD in Tissue engineering (2018), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Research Focus / Interest
- Development of natural and synthetic biomaterial formulations, hydrogels and bioinks
- Development of scaffolds, substrates and hydrogels for cultured meat
- Bioprinting/biofabrication processes for cellular agriculture and tissue engineering
