Dr Stefan Przyborski, a researcher at Durham University and chief scientific officer of Reinnervate, has developed a polystyrene foam scaffold which enables cells to grow in 3-dimensions in a similar way to how they grow in the human body. The new technology will revolutionize the way cells are grown and drugs are tested particularly in areas such as toxicology. This product will provide detailed answers to how drugs will behave when introduced to the body thereby provide companies cost effective alternative to clinical trials.
Traditionally, cells have been grown in 2-d single layers on a flat-polystyrene substrate, either in culture vessels or flat plates containing a number of wells. Studies suggest however, that cells grown on the 3-d scaffold behave more naturally which for drug testing purposes is not only more cost effective but gives a truer reading of how the drug would perform within the body.
Durham University spin-out company Reinnervate, will commercialize the manufacture and global sales after securing funding from NorthStar Equity Investors, Angel Investors and Centre for Excellence in Life Sciences (Cels).
12-Sep-08 
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