Cureacell Cureacell’s disposable bioreactor and method for co-culturing cells kinetically (Patent No. 7,022,518) may provide future innovative ex vivo methods for cultivating, transforming, and/or differentiating a variety of cells including adult and embryonic stem cells for cell therapy treatments. Cureacell’s mission: Cureacell, Inc. specializes in designing and developing novel cellular therapeutic products and supplies for cell therapy and repair of both damaged and dysfunctional human tissues and organs in vivo. Recently, Patent No. 7,022,518 was issued to Glen Feye and includes both apparatus design and method for ex vivo cell cultivation and differentiation. Cureacell’s goal is to become a leader in innovative cellular therapies, which treat a variety of human diseases. Our scientific direction is to develop and commercialize human cellular therapies and products, which can be administered with minimally invasive techniques into damaged human tissues and organs. Cureacell is committed to publication of the use and benefits of the bioreactor in peer-review journals. We are also continuing research and development, especially in the cardiovascular and urology therapeutic areas. An Innovative Bioreactor and Kinetic Method to Co-Culture Cells : Cureacell’s disposable bioreactor is a closed system, which can be easily handled under aseptic conditions, and thereby reduces the risk of contamination. The bioreactor consists of a transferable, self-centering cartridge, which can be relatively easily inserted and fitted into another cylindrical cell-culture receptacle under aseptic conditions. The bioreactor provides two, separate cell culturing chambers. The outer wall of the inner cartridge can be constructed of a variety of mesh or microporous materials with or without a coating of extracellular matrix to promote the desired cell growth on the inside of the cartridge. In addition, the outer receptacle serves as the second culturing chamber.
	Contact Information: Glen Feye, President 1340 West Pennsylvania Avenue San Diego, CA 92103 619-291-3695		The microporous material between the two chambers allows for physical cell separation, while still allowing cell-to-cell interactions and signaling between cell lines via the continuous transfer of conditioned culture media across the membrane into each chamber. In addition, the design is flexible enough to allow for a variety of configurations within the bioreactor while still maintaining easy end-user aseptic handling.
	The bioreactor is designed to be mechanically rotated using standard cell culture equipment and roller bottle methodology. The kinetic nature of the patented apparatus provides a distinct advantage over standard static cell culture co-culture inserts and current cell culture methods. Unlike static co-culture inserts, the Cureacell bioreactor rotates. The rotation of the bioreactor continously mixes conditioned cell culture growth medium contained in both receptacles, which eliminates gradients effectively. Cell lines in both receptacles achieve optimal co-culture conditions, growth rates and cell-to-cell signaling. The cultivation of many types of “pure“ cell populations can be achieved on a large or small scale using the Cureacell bioreactor. The patented cell culturing method includes five basic steps, which are performed aseptically with standard cell culture equipment. 1)   The method starts with the establishment of the primary cell line. This primary cell line is seeded in the bioreactor and allowed to grow kinetically under normal tissue culture conditions. 2)   Following sufficient growth of the primary cell line in the bioreactor, a second cell line, or support cell line, is cultured with the primary cell line to promote cell expansion without differentiation. 3)   The support cell line communicates with the primary, expanding cells by way of the microporous cartridge without being in actual physical contact with the cells. 4)   Finally, a transformation cell line is seeded into a segregated compartment of the bioreactor and all lines are kinetically co-cultured in the appropriate cell culture conditions. 5)   The co-culture of the primary cells with the transformation cell line promotes differentiation of the primary cells. Differentiated cells or medium can then be used for the desired application. Potential Applications and Therapies based on the Technology: The bioreactor and method can be easily used as a basic research tool or in a laboratory setting to produce cells for clinical trials. The apparatus and method may be used to grow and manipulate several types of cells including stem cells, hematopoetic, neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, and other organ-derived cells. The patent describes a method for the production of cardiomyocytes derived from both adult and embryonic stem cell populations. Cellular products derived from the bioreactor and Curacell method may be potentially used in clinical applications including: cardiovascular myoplasty, vascular graft tissue engineering, immunological reconstitution, spinal cord repair, articular resurfacing and skin grafting. Licensing Opportunities: We are offering licensing opportunities for companies interested in commercial manufacturing and distributing of our patented bioreactor and/or ex vivo method for cultivating, transforming, and/or differentiating cells for transplantable cell therapy. With the appropriate marketing partner, our plan is to thoroughly evaluate the bioreactor and method. We believe that this kinetic system could easily replace the widely used current market standard of static co-culture inserts. We also believe that the new cellular therapies and applications may have enormous market potential in the future. We expect a large and growing market with the potential of 4 million to 5 million units per year, after the launch of the new product. Prototypes of the bioreactor are available for inspection. We are also offering licensing opportunities to biotechnology, manufacturing and other companies interested in culturing and transforming stem cells for potential innovative cell therapies. Contact Information: Glen Feye, President 1340 West Pennsylvania Avenue San Diego, CA 92103 619-291-3695