Fluidigm, develops,
manufactures and markets proprietary Integrated Fluidic Circuit (IFC) systems
that significantly improve productivity in life science research, will provide
the latest updates for its upcoming Stem Cell Culture Chip at the World Stem
Cell Summit being held in Baltimore on September 21 - 23. This specialized integrated
fluidic circuit will enable a variety of cell culture applications, including
allowing stem cell researchers to simplify and automate protocols for turning
differentiated cells into stem cells, and later fine tuning the reprogramming
of those stem cells into targeted differentiated cells.
Fluidigm has working prototypes of this chip and instrumentation operating
in its R&D labs now. The commercially available product, which will standardize
and automate the cell culture process, is expected to significantly speed development
of stem cell understanding, reduce the complexity of reprogramming stem cells
and lower the cost of this research by improving efficiency and shrinking labor
requirements.
“Reprogramming a patient’s differentiated cells – such as
skin cells – into stem cells overcomes the inherent ethical and immunological
barriers to therapeutic usage of embryonic stem cells,” explained Marc
Unger, Fluidigm’s chief scientific officer. “We believe our Stem
Cell Culture Chip will be an enabling tool for stem cell researchers. By designing
and building a stem cell-specific microfluidic chip in conjunction with a complete
support system, we can automate much of mundane process steps and substantially
reduce the complexity and cost of fundamental stem cell research.”
Fluidigm’s Stem Cell Culture Chip (and supporting instrumentation) will
be able to seed chambers with stem cells and then feed those cells, as well
as provide media exchange and an automated means to dose those cells with different
reagents under programmable control. The cells can be easily analyzed using
time-lapse microscopic images in both transmitted light and fluorescence.
Fluidigm develops, manufactures and markets proprietary Integrated Fluidic
Circuit (IFC) systems that significantly improve productivity in life science
research. Fluidigm’s IFCs enable the simultaneous performance of thousands
of sophisticated biochemical measurements in extremely minute volumes. These
“integrated circuits for biology” are made possible by miniaturizing
and integrating liquid handling components on a single microfluidic device.
Fluidigm’s systems, consisting of instrumentation, software and single-use
chips, increase throughput, decrease costs and enhance sensitivity compared
to conventional laboratory systems. Fluidigm products have not been cleared
or approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as a diagnostic and
are only available for research use.