The burgeoning cell agriculture industry stands at the cusp of transforming how we produce meat. However, scaling up the production of cultured meat comes with unique challenges, particularly in the crucial step of harvesting delicate animal cells from complex growth media. The need for gentle yet efficient methods that maximise cell recovery and maintain viability is paramount.

CARR Biosystems are excited to share a recent case study highlighting a significant breakthrough in this area. Collaborating closely with leading cell agriculture scientists, they put the Unifuge platform to the test, focusing on optimising cell harvesting parameters for a variety of cell types, including chicken, salmon, and bovine.  

The challenge was clear: to develop a scalable centrifugation method that could handle diverse cell densities and production needs without compromising the integrity of these valuable cells. The approach involved meticulously adjusting feed rates and g-forces on the Unifuge platform to evaluate its compatibility across different cell types and growth conditions.  

The results were compelling:

1. High Recovery: The Unifuge platform consistently achieved an impressive 90% to 95% cell recovery across all tested conditions. This level of efficiency is critical for cost-effective and scalable cultured meat production.  
2. Low Cell Damage: Maintaining cell viability is non-negotiable in cell harvest in cultivated meat production. The Unifuge demonstrated exceptional gentleness, with viability loss remaining below 5% in all tests. This ensures a high yield of functional cells for onward processing.  
3. Minimal LDH Generation: Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release is a key indicator of cell damage. The Unifuge Pilot system showed less than 1% LDH release, a significantly lower level compared to traditional disc stack centrifuges. This further underscores the platform's gentle handling of delicate cells.  

These findings demonstrate the significant potential of the Unifuge platform to address a critical bottleneck in the cell agriculture industry. By providing a solution that combines high recovery rates with minimal cell damage, CARR Biosystems are enabling scientists and companies to advance towards scalable and sustainable cultured meat production.

With CARR Biosystems, BPES are proud to be at the forefront of innovation in this exciting field, partnering with researchers to develop solutions that will shape the future of food.