3-D cell growth attracts funding

A company hoping to revolutionise the way cells are grown in the laboratory, is preparing for commercial manufacture and global sales after securing £750,000 funding

Studies suggest 3-D cell growth offers more accurate understanding of drug interaction

Led by Dr Stefan Przyborski chief scientific officer of Reinnervate and a researcher at Durham University, the company has developed a polystyrene foam scaffold which enables cells to grow in 3-dimensions in a similar way to how they grow in the human body.

Dr Stefan Przyborski, added: “By using our technology to grow cells, scientists will be able to gain a more accurate understanding of how drugs will behave when introduced to the body. From a commercial perspective, our technology is not only the best on the market, but economical to produce with the potential to save companies working toward clinical trials, a great deal of money.”

Traditionally, cells have been grown in 2-d single layers on a flat-polystyrene substrate, either in culture vessels or flat plates containing a number of wells. Studies suggest however, that cells grown on the 3-d scaffold behave more naturally which for drug testing purposes is not only more cost effective but gives a truer reading of how the drug would perform within the body.

The company received £550,000 through NSEI’s Co-Investment Fund, while a further £200,000 was raised through Angel Investors.  Reinnervate has also received significant support from Cels (the Centre for Excellence in Life Sciences) in the form of a loan and consultancy guidance.