Sorting 500 million cells in six hours, while preserving their integrity: How do you manage it?

Cell sorting technologies have long been plagued by a fundamental trade-off: if speed is your top priority, you risk damaging the cells; if you handle them gently, the process becomes too slow for real-time clinical use. This challenge has been directly addressed by Cytonome, a pioneer in innovative cell processing, through its groundbreaking GigaSort® platform. The advanced solution provided by GigaSort®, which combines speed, accuracy, and gentle handling, is revolutionizing cell therapy and research through its state-of-the-art microfluidic chip manufactured by Micronit. In this case study, we explore how the strategic collaboration between Micronit and Cytonome has led to this promising advancement in the field of cell therapy applications.

The Challenge: Achieving speed without sacrificing cell integrity

CytonomeST, an STgenetics company aimed to develop a solution capable of sorting cells quickly and accurately without compromising cell integrity. To accomplish this objective, CytonomeST strategically selected microfluidic cell sorting technology as the foundation for their innovative approach. According to John Sharpe, who leads Cell Therapy Platforms at CytonomeST, traditional cell sorting solutions present researchers with a significant trade-off between speed and quality. "Gentle treatment helps keep more cells alive and functional; however, it is too slow to be feasible for clinical use," he explains. "CytonomeST has developed a solution that can sort cells at high speed and with great accuracy without compromising cell integrity. GigaSort®'s ability to prioritize speed and quality without sacrificing cell integrity is what distinguishes it in the cell sorting marketplace," Sharpe adds. 

The Solution: The Innovative GigaSort® Microfluidic Chip

The GigaSort® platform offers exceptional versatility across a wide range of applications, including cell therapy, stem cell research, and drug development. This advanced solution ensures that cells are sorted gently at high speed, maintaining industry-best viability and efficacy for cell therapy applications. This capability is particularly valuable when working with rare or high-value cell types such as stem cells.

The GMP-compliant GigaSort® platform incorporates a sophisticated 24-channel microfluidic glass chip that precisely processes over 500 million cells in a six-hour run. Micronit has established a strategic partnership with CytonomeST to refine and manufacture these specialized glass chips, ensuring consistent quality and performance.

About the partnership with Micronit

"Micronit is one of the few foundries with the resources and expertise required to meet Cytonome's requirements and preferences," said Sharpe. "Their specialized knowledge and extensive experience in microfluidic manufacturing has enabled us to customize the GigaSort® chip to address the specific needs of individual customer cell lines." Sharpe emphasized, "Micronit's comprehensive experience has been instrumental throughout both the development and scaling phases of our microfluidic chips, enabling GigaSort® to facilitate commercially viable cell therapies that were previously unattainable."

More information?

Currently, the GigaSort® technology is being implemented in several clinical studies, including pioneering research on Parkinson's Disease, where accurate, gentle, and efficient commercial bulk cell sorting is essential for successful outcomes.To discover how GigaSort® technology can transform your cell therapy workflow, visit the CytonomeST website for comprehensive case studies and technical specifications.

If you are looking for a development and manufacturing partner to provide customized microfluidic solutions for your applications, connect with Micronit's expert consultants through our dedicated contact page.