Revolution

 

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC) Technology

Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has the potential to transform the fields of drug discovery and cell therapy by providing a reliable source of human cells for research and therapeutic purposes.

iPSCs can be differentiated into a wide range of cell types, allowing researchers to study disease mechanisms and test potential drug candidates in a more physiologically relevant context. In addition, iPSCs can be used to generate organ-specific cells for use in cell therapies, which have the potential to treat a variety of diseases and conditions.

 

Application of iPSC

iPSC are generated by reprogramming somatic cells, such as skin or blood cells, to an embryonic-like state through the forced expression of specific transcription factors. iPSCs have the capacity to differentiate into any cell type of the body,
allowing for the creation of patient/organ-specific cells that can be used to study disease mechanisms and develop new therapies.

Drug Discovery

Cell Therapy

Application of iPSC

 

Drug Discovery

iPSC-derived cells can be used to create disease models by restoring disease phenotypes, either from patient samples or by CRISPR editing. Researchers can generate iPSCs from patients with specific genetic mutations or disease phenotypes, and differentiate these cells into relevant cell types such as cardiomyocytes, neurons, or liver cells. These cells are then used to study disease mechanisms, screen large libraries of compounds or drugs, and identify potential therapeutics that can restore normal function or alleviate disease symptoms.

Available Disease Models in LumiSTAR

     

      • Cardiac Disease Models

      • Neurodegenerative Disease Models- Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Diseases

    Application of iPSC

     

    Cell Therapy

    Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be used in cell therapy to treat various diseases or injuries by differentiating them into functional cells that can replace or repair damaged cells or tissues, addressing unmet medical needs such as neurodegenerative disorders, spinal cord injuries, and kidney diseases (such as chronic kidney disease or acute kidney injury).

    LumiSTAR’s Pipelines

       

        • Parkinson’s Disease

        • Cancer

        • Kidney Disease

      Pain Points on Developing Applications of iPSC Technology

       

      Maturation states of Cells

      Differentiated cells must achieve a certain level of maturity to best reflect the disease phenotype and be suitable for translation to cell therapy.

       

      High Throughput Screening

      Advanced technologies are essential for efficient screening of iPSC-derived cells to gain more information on cellular functionality and drug response.

      OUR SOLUTION

       

      Integrating iPSCs with Bioimaging Methods

      LumiSTAR is a leader in the field of developing genetically encoded tools  for live cell bioimaging, by which enables high-throughput screening of
      cellular functions for drug discovery and quality control of iPSC cell therapy.
      By visualizing and quantifying changes in cellular morphology, activities, and other cellular features, LumiSTAR’s bio imaging platform can provide valuable insights into how drugs affect cells at the cellular level. In addition to drug discovery, bio imaging is also crucial for quality
      control in cell therapy. The success of iPS cell therapies relies on the maturation states of the cells to perform their intended functions in
      vivo. LumiSTAR’s platform can be used to evaluate the quality and functionality of cells prior to their use in therapy. By assessing key
      cellular parameters mentioned above, LumiSTAR’s system can help ensure the safety and efficacy of cell therapies.

      Advantages of LumiSTAR’s Genetically Encoded Tools

      Non-toxic to cells

      Allowing for long-term observations

      Can be used in both 2D and 3D cell cultures

      Ultra-sensitive, single cell detection is achievable

      Multiple colors for fluorescence imaging are available

      Advantages of LumiSTAR’s Bioimaging Platform

      Get instant response in real time for analysis

      Enable timely correction of development protocols

      Contribute to 3 times faster in pipeline development

      How

       

      Triple Core Technology

      LumiSTAR’s triple core technology platform represents a sophisticated combination of iPSCs, viral vectors, and genetically encoded tools that enable high throughput/content screening for developing novel therapeutics

      iPSC Derived Cells

       
      Differentiated cells for drug discovery and therapeutics
       

      Genetically Encoded Tools

       
      Allowing for real-time bioimaging on cellular dynamics for high-content and high-throughput screening
       

      Viral Vectors

       
      Installing genetically encoded tools inside cells, allowing for labeling, measurement, and therapeutic purposes
       

       

      Demonstration of Our Platform

      High-Throughput Optical Controlling and Recording Calcium Signal in iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes for Toxicity Testing and Phenotypic Drug Screening

      Chang, Y. F., Su, W. C., Su, C. C., Chung, M. W., Chang, J., Li, Y. Y., Kao, Y. J., Chen, W. P., Daniels, M. J. High-Throughput Optical Controlling and Recording Calcium Signal in iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes for Toxicity Testing and Phenotypic Drug Screening. J. Vis. Exp. (181), e63175, doi:10.3791/63175 (2022).
      link to the article and video