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Cell media rejuvenation has potential to reduce processing cost of cultured meat

29-Aug-2023 - Last updated on 29-Aug-2023 at 10:35 GMT

Work on a method to recycle cell media could reuce the production cost of cultured meat

Producing cell cultured meat could become cheaper and more mainstream, thanks to a new partnership forged to develop a process for rejuvenating the media in which cells are grown in.

Bioprocessing firm CellRev has signed a joint development agreement (JDA) with Saint-Gobain Life Sciences (SGLS) to develop a process for media rejuvenation. The pair will utilise their expertise to develop a solution that can remove toxins and replenish spent media, allowing it to be recirculated back into the process.

Cell culture media – made up of basal media and a blend of growth factors – supplies cells with the necessary nutrients to proliferate in vitro. It is through this process that cell cultured meat is made.

This media has been described as an unavoidable but quite often prohibitively expensive component of the cell culture process, making it more important to significantly reduce cost and waste as the field begins to scale.

Roles in the partnership

CellRev will assist in the development of a process that permits the removal of toxins and metabolites allowing the recirculation of as much media as possible, while SGLS has the knowledge and experience of creating and manufacturing custom components for fluid management systems.

It is through this combination of elements that the partnership aims to develop an ‘industry-first’ media rejuvenation process for cellular product developers and manufacturers by directing waste, or spent, media through a specialised assembly that reconditions the media allowing it to be circulated back into the process.

Chris Green, chief executive at CellRev, said: “As we enter the bio-revolution, cell culture is of enormous importance and yet, we cannot meet projected demand with the technologies and infrastructure currently available.

Our breakthrough continuous cell processing platform is already addressing the bioprocessing need, and through this JDA with SGLS, we can begin to tackle media waste to further reduce product cost. We are excited to get underway with the Saint-Gobain team in this new area of exploration for both companies.”

Rollout plans

Multiple phases of development have been planned prior to commercialisation, with the project anticipated to conclude – with products being made available – in 2024.

Saint-Gobain Life Sciences vice president of research and development Narendar Yeshwanth added: “With our material expertise and specially engineered filtration solutions coupled with CellRev’s continuous cell processing platform, we expect to develop cost-saving solutions that reduce the high-cost media used in bioprocessing today.

“Our collaboration with the CellRev team will help deliver a sustainable solution that will impact multiple markets.”

Meanwhile, cultivated meat manufacturer Meatable has raised an additional $35m (£27.5m) in funding to support the launch of its products in Singapore and the US.