CORNING, N.Y.—Earlier this year, Corning Inc. expanded its microcarrier product offerings to include Corning Dissolvable Microcarriers. With the addition, the company says, scientists and technical experts seeking to avoid using harsh dissociation methods can now rely on an option for a gentler, more efficient cell harvest than is offered by traditional microcarrier technology. The company unveiled the new microcarrier offering at the Cell & Gene Therapy World in Miami, held Jan. 22-25.

 

Corning’s new Dissolvable Microcarriers are composed of cross-linked polysaccharide polymers that are said to be efficiently dissolved during the cell harvest step. The ability to completely dissolve the microcarrier reportedly results in simpler downstream purification processes and eliminates the need to physically separate the cells from the microcarriers.

 

“Using this material technology, these new microcarriers avoid many of the disadvantages associated with traditional microcarriers,” said Dr. Anthony Frutos, business technology director for Corning Life Sciences. “Dissociation of attached cells from the surface of traditional microcarriers can be problematic, and a subsequent separation step is required, adding complexity and cost to the overall production process. Dissolvable Microcarriers, in contrast, provide an ideal solution for applications in which functional cells are the desired product—as, for example, in cell therapy.”

 

Corning is one of the world’s leading innovators in materials science. For more than 160 years, Corning has applied its expertise in specialty glass, ceramics and optical physics, succeeding, the company says, “through sustained investment in R&D, a unique combination of material and process innovation and close collaboration with customers to solve tough technology challenges.” In addition to life sciences, Corning’s businesses serve the needs of  consumer electronics, telecommunications and transportation, among other markets.