Quasi-VivoTM Inter-connected Cell Culture
Dr Kate Darley
Kirkstall Ltd.
Presentation April 2010
Quasi-VivoTM Cell Culture Systems
 About Kirkstall
 Introduction to the Quasi-VivoTM system
 System data
Access to the Quasi-VivoTM system
 Future directions
Quasi-VivoTM Cell Culture Systems
About Kirkstall
Launch of company, November 2006
South Yorkshire Seedcorn Fund investment July 2007
Licence with Pisa University and Collaboration begins with Sheffield University, October 2007
Proof of Concept Testing complete, June 2008
Second Round Seed Funding, September 2008
Manufacture and first validation studies complete, November 2008
First Product (kit) sales, February 2009
Launch of Contract Research Service, April 2009
Quasi-VivoTM Cell Culture Systems
Introduction to the Quasi-VivoTM system
Quasi-VivoTM Cell Culture Systems
INTER-CONNECTED CELL CULTURE …
Cells/tissue connected in series/parallel
Nutrient/media flow-through system
Allows cell-to-cell signalling
Metabolites/drugs/compounds circulate in system
Vitality/cell differentiation maintained
PROVIDES IN-VIVO LIKE (Quasi-vivo) CONDITIONS FOR CELL GROWTH
Quasi-VivoTM Cell Culture Systems
INTER-CONNECTED CELL CULTURE …
Quasi-VivoTM Cell Culture Systems
Chamber design
Minimises bubble formation
and shear stress
Shape & dimensions similar to
24 well plates. Facilitates cell transfer
…from seeding to the bio-module
Cell biologists familiar with conventional
multi-well plates rapidly able to use
...the system
Proprietary design/covered by
three patents
Quasi-VivoTM Cell Culture Systems
Experimental design
Basic - 2 chambers connected
In series/parallel
Complex – 32 chambers
connected in series/parallel
Quasi-VivoTM Cell Culture Systems
PROVIDES IN-VIVO LIKE CONDITIONS FOR CELL GROWTH?
VALIDATION I
In primary hepatocytes xenobiotic gene expression
is closer to in vivo.
Cells maintain differentiation over a longer periods
Cell morphology
static
Quasi-vivo
Quasi-VivoTM Cell Culture Systems
VALIDATION II - Correlation with drug metabolism/toxicity in vivo?
Improved Sensitivity for
Toxicity Screening:
QuasiVivoTM
EC50
Clinical
Trial
Result
Conventional
In vitro EC50
Diclofenac
A non-steroidal antiinflammatory.
Dose-response curve in
Human Primary
hepatocytes
Quasi-VivoTM Cell Culture Systems
Access to the Quasi-VivoTM system
Quasi-VivoTM Cell Culture Systems
ACCESS TO THE TECHNOLOGY
Products: The Quasi-Vivo™ 100 Kit
Bio-modules, reservoir bottle, connecting tubes,
Peristaltic pump (Kit).
Services: Contract research
Flexible service, labs service available in
Sheffield or in your own lab
Quasi-VivoTM Cell Culture Systems
WHO WE WORK WITH….
Academic groups: UK universities,
France (Montpellier), Italy (Pisa),
EU framework 7 – InLIVEtox
Cosmetic industry – EU ban 2009
Need for an alternative to animal testing
Chemical industry – REACH legislation
Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation
and restriction of CHemicals
Pharmaceutical industryLead discovery/lead optimization
KEY NOTE SPEAKERS:
Prof David Tweats
(University of Swansea)
‘Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century’
Prof Claus-Michael Lehr
(Helmholtz-Institute, Saarland)
‘Drug delivery across biological barriers’
Dr Patrick Maurel
(INSERM Montpellier)
‘Human hepatocyte culture and applications
for drug discovery’
Dr David Standring
(Idenix Pharma, MA, USA)
‘Preclinical drug discovery, in vitro/in vivo testing
past and future’
Dr Robert Landsiedel
(BASF) ‘Safety Research on Nanomaterials’
Prof Sheila Macneil
(University of Sheffield)
‘3D Tissue engineering models for R&D’
Quasi-VivoTM Cell Culture Systems
Thanks for listening & any questions…
kdarley@kirkstall.org
www.kirkstall.org