UCD School of Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering

Animal Cell Culture Engineering

Animal cell systems are the preferred "cell factories" for the production of complex molecules and antibodies for use as prophylactics, therapeutics or diagnostics. Examples of these products include;

o Interferons
o Erythropoetin
o Interleukins and other cytokines
o Tissue type plasminogen activator (tPA)
o Monoclonal antibodies
o Vaccines

• Animal cells are required for the correct post-translational processing (including glycosylation) of biopharmaceutical protein products.
• Production of viral vectors for gene therapy (inserting a normal gene into somatic cells containing a defective gene to cure the disease caused by that defect). Major targets for this therapy include cancer, HIV, arthritis, cardiovascular and CNS diseases and cystic fibrosis.
• Production of animal cells for use as in vitro substrates in pharmacological and toxicological studies.
• Large scale ex-vivo expansion of stem cells for research and practice of transplantation.
• Tissue engineering or organogenesis for production of bioartificial organ replacement/assisting devices, for example;

Artificial skin, for severe burns
Tissue engineered bones, to restore skeleton function
Liver assist devices, for hepatic failure
Pancreatic islet of Langerhans devices, for diabetes