Methyl cellulose assays

A polymer of choice in semi-solid matrices for the purpose of colony forming cell assays (CFC) is methyl cellulose.

METHONOVA™ is our cutting-edge methyl cellulose, tested for cell compatibility and suitable for cell assays. Typically, a 1-1.5% concentration of methyl cellulose is employed in these assays. Thanks to its high viscosity, methyl cellulose facilitates cell proliferation and aggregation, benefiting cell counting and colony selection.

The biopharmaceutical market continues to grow at a rapid pace, fueling the need for cells to produce proteins, cell or gene therapies. However, cell production stands as a major bottleneck within the industry, impacting both production timelines and the cost-effectiveness of biopharmaceutical therapies.

Certain cells can be grown in suspension, such as the commonly used Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, which are used for the production of monoclonal antibody (mAb) drugs. To enhance production yields of suspension cells, extensive efforts have been devoted to reducing stress factors and optimizing upstream processes.

One innovative approach involves the strategic use of additives to boost cell production. Take, for instance, Poloxamer 188 (Px188), an additive that acts as a shear protectant. It has now become a staple in many commercial media products. Notably, methyl cellulose can also be used as a media additive for elevating viable cell density in CHO cell cultures. (see Figure 1).

Adherent cells, such as mesenchymal and induced pluripotent (MSC & iPSC) stem cells, typically bind to surfaces, such as T flasks, microcarriers or other suitable 3-Dimensional (3D) environments to aid expansion. After the cells have proliferated, they are usually removed from the surfaces using the enzyme trypsin to cleave the cell’s binding proteins. However, this process can damage the cells, potentially impacting production yields and introducing inconsistent therapeutic potency.

The ability to form cell aggregates, also known as spheroids, is gaining interest as an alternative 3D model for cell growth, particularly for stem cell producer cells. Similar to its application in cell assays, methyl cellulose can protect these cells from adhering to surfaces, supporting optimal colony formation.

One of the newer frontiers in biopharma is the transition from 2D to 3D cell growth, mimicking an in-vivo like environment to promote nutrient distribution and eventually cell proliferation. With the push to eliminate the use of animal derived products such as extracellular matrices, non-animal derived hydrogels are increasingly investigated for the formation of scaffolds for directed cell growth.