Semarion, a University of Cambridge spin-out company from the Cavendish Laboratory, has opened the Early Adopter Programme for its SemaCyte Microcarrier Platform.
The platform aims to overcome the limitations associated with adherent cell culture and assaying workflows by enabling small colonies of cells to be moved and frozen in their adherent state, increasing the volume of data collected per experiment and reducing the resource demands of in vitro drug discovery.
Companies can now register their interest to be included in the Programme. Semarion is also offering demonstrations via a webinar, and a demonstration day at its laboratories in Cambridge, UK.
SemaCytes, developed by Semarion, are cell carrier materials, created using microchip fabrication technologies, nanomagnetism, and smart materials. These assaying microcarriers are flat and function as ultra-miniaturised, magnetically steerable wells which carry small colonies of adherent cells into suspension to improve cell-based experiments.
They enable the controlled movement of cell types which need to stick to a surface, namely those typically used for in vitro drug discovery work. By facilitating workflow automation, assay miniaturisation, and adherent cell freezing, the technology can improve the quality and reproducibility of cell screening data while potentially reducing the time and cost to deliver research outputs.
Jeroen Verheyen, Co-Founder & CEO, Semarion, said: “Semarion has seen an exciting period of recent growth over the past year, including development of our in-house manufacturing suite, granting of our first patent, winning the Business Weekly Pathfinder award, and expansion of our internal team. Reaching the next stage of development with this programme is a key milestone in our shift towards commercialisation.”
