CYTENA Blog

Applications and Advances in Bacterial and Yeast Strain Development

CYTENA team — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:08:51 GMT

From producing lifesaving therapeutics like insulin to creating eco-friendly biofuels, engineered strains of bacteria and yeast offer solutions to pressing global challenges. Advances in synthetic biology and automation are driving this field forward, enabling efficient processes and novel applications. However, challenges like single clone isolation, growth condition optimization, and regulatory hurdles persist. This blog explores the applications of bacteria and yeast strain development, highlighting challenges and advances in this rapidly evolving field.

Single Cell Isolation: What it is and How it Works

CYTENA team — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:06:56 GMT

Single cell isolation has become a key part of today’s modern life science research

If you’re developing stable cell lines, performing gene editing, or working on single-cell omics, being able to separate and isolate individual cells reliably is critical for reproducibility, standardization and regulatory compliance.

As demands for precision and traceability continue to rise, especially in biopharmaceutical development, choosing the right single‑cell isolation method can significantly influence the success of your experiments.

Explore the Latest Innovations in Cell Line Development

CYTENA team — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:03:42 GMT

Cell Line Development: Comprehensive Insights and Advances

Cell line development is a cornerstone of several modern biomedical applications. It provides essential models for studying diseases and tools for developing the latest therapeutic products ¹. Researchers leverage the unique benefits of mammalian cell lines and innovations in gene editing, such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 and prime editing, to continuously enhance cell line development processes ². Advancements in automation technology are maximizing efficiency in cell line development by enabling higher throughput, reducing contamination risks, and simplifying the selection of high-performing clones ³. These developments are transforming cell line development, making it more reliable and effective than ever. This article covers applications, innovations, and challenges in cell line development and introduces CYTENA’s instruments as future-proof solutions for therapy development.

Mammalian Cell Line Development

Mammalian cell line development is essential for both translational and basic biomedical research. It offers cost-effective and manageable models for various diseases and tools for the production of cutting-edge therapeutics ^1,4.

Applications

Virtually all fields in biomedicine benefit from mammalian cell line development, including recombinant protein production, vaccine production, cell and gene therapies, drug discovery and development, and fundamental research.

Drug Discovery

Mammalian cell lines provide a reproducible system for monitoring cellular responses to drugs and are crucial for high-throughput screening of drug candidates, biomarker discovery, and personalized medicine applications ^5,6.

Therapy Production

Mammalian cell line development enables the production of complex molecules and antibodies, which are essential biological therapies for a growing list of indications. Technologies like the UP.SIGHT single-cell dispenser and imager ensure high clonal derivation in cell line development, significantly de-risking therapy production pipelines (Fig. 1).

Figure 1. The UP.SIGHT uses microfluidics to ensure gentle single-cell seeding with a clonal recovery rate of up to 80%.

Research

Mammalian cell lines provide stable models for studying various diseases. Gene editing techniques allow researchers to gain deeper insights into disease mechanisms by facilitating gene knockout experiments. In vivo studies using mammalian cell lines often serve as pre-clinical justification for human trials ⁷.

Challenges

Despite the utility of mammalian cell line development, many challenges slow research progress. Overcoming these challenges with advanced easy-to-use instrumentation gives researchers an advantage over the competition. CYTENA provides the automated C.STATION platform, an end-to-end solution that solves multiple perennial problems simultaneously.

Contamination

Mammalian cell lines are prone to contamination from microbes and other cell lines8. Manual liquid handling increases this risk. Automated liquid handlers like CYTENA’s UP.SIGHT reduce contamination risk and ensure monoclonality with >97% single-cell dispensing efficiency.

Yield Issues

Multiple factors contribute to issues with protein production. Suboptimal cell culture conditions reduce cell productivity and issues with protein folding significantly impact the functionality of the final product. To improve folding, researchers can optimize the protein-coding sequence and co-express chaperone proteins that facilitate proper folding. Researchers can also tailor cell culture conditions, such as temperature, pH, and glucose concentration, to suit the cell line they are using.

Selecting the best clone for scale-up is crucial. CYTENA’s F.QUANT titer assay facilitates optimal clone selection by allowing researchers to easily measure the production of their target protein.

Instability

Cell line instability affects therapy manufacturing by diminishing cellular productivity ⁹. Maintaining stable growing conditions and gentle handling are essential for preventing instability and phenotypic shift. Fully automated cell line development workflows like those achieved through the C.STATION help maintain consistency throughout the process and reduce instability.

Storage

Growing and scaling up multiple cell lines simultaneously can put strain on laboratory incubators and storage space. Automated single-cell dispensing and microfluidics allow workflows to be scaled down, significantly minimizing storage needs. The UP.SIGHT allows researchers to grow clones in 96- and 386-well formats, optimizing both space and resource allocation.

Check out our dedicated article on mammalian cell line development for further insights and solutions to common challenges.

Gene Editing in Cell Line Development

Advances in gene editing have transformed how we approach research, drug discovery and therapy production. New techniques like CRISPR-Cas9 and prime editing are setting new standards for efficiency and accuracy in cell line engineering, paving the way for innovative treatments and research breakthroughs.

Applications

Gene editing can be used to enhance target protein production, stability, and proliferation of cell lines used for therapy production ². It also enables the creation of universal donor cells and off-the-shelf CAR-T cells for cancer therapy (Fig. 2) ¹⁰. Furthermore, gene editing facilitates the reaction of disease models and enables studies of gene function.

Figure 2. CAR-T cell therapy involves genetically modifying a patient’s immune cells to recognize and attack cancer cells.

Methods for Gene Editing

Novel methods for gene editing are continuously emerging leading to the expansion of applications within cell line development workflows.

CRISPR-Cas9

CRISPR-Cas9 is a groundbreaking gene editing technique that uses guide RNA to direct the Cas9 nuclease to specific genome sequences, causing double-strand breaks for targeted genetic modifications. CRISPR is used to enhance Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and hybridoma cells for biological therapy production, improving protein yield and cell resilience ².

Prime Editing

Prime editing uses prime editing guide RNA to direct a fusion protein to specific genomic sites, where it integrates precise DNA sequences via a single-strand nick ¹¹. Though newer and less extensively used, prime editing holds significant promise for optimizing cell line development by enabling precise genetic modifications.

Read our dedicated articleon gene editing for deeper insights and information on other methods of gene editing such as base editing.

Maximizing Efficiency in Cell Line Development

Cell line development is crucial for producing modern therapies, and new automation and genetic engineering technologies are enhancing efficiency and precision across development workflows. New cell line development technologies enable companies to bring novel therapeutics to market faster and more efficiently, resulting in significant cost savings and a n edge over the competition.

Automation

Automation accelerates biomedicine by streamlining cell line development with robotics, AI, and integration of advanced fluid-handling technologies. It enhances efficiency, reduces risks, and frees scientists from repetitive tasks ³. Automation also enables high throughput, allowing efficient seeding, screening, and selection of top-performing clones, thus saving resources and time in scaling up production.

Quality Control

Verifying single-cell seeding is crucial for regulatory compliance and therapy development success ¹². The UP.SIGHT from CYTENA images cells during and after dispensing, providing robust evidence of monoclonality with >99.99% clonal derivation and up to 80% clonal recovery. This instrument allows researchers to expedite their workflows while enhancing the quality of their work.

Cell viability and proliferation are other critical factors in cell line development. The UP.SIGHT and C.STUDIO from CYTENA enable scientists to monitor cell growth, quickly detecting contamination and other issues that affect proliferation and viability.

Conclusion

Cell line development remains pivotal in advancing biomedical research and therapeutic production. By integrating gene editing and automation innovations, scientists can create more reliable and efficient cell lines in less time. By addressing challenges such as contamination, yield optimization, and cell line stability through cutting-edge technologies like CYTENA’s UP.SIGHT and C.STUDIO, researchers can now achieve higher efficiency and accuracy in cell line development. As these technologies evolve, they promise further to enhance the reliability and effectiveness of cell line development, paving the way for future breakthroughs in biomedicine. CYTENA stands at the forefront of cell line development technologies, helping researchers overcome challenges with advanced, yet simple, solutions.

Visit our website to learn more about our comprehensive suite of instruments that offer end-to-end solutions for cell line development. Ready to see the power of the UP.SIGHT for yourself? A demo is just one click away.

References

O’Flaherty R, Bergin A, Flampouri E, et al. Mammalian cell culture for production of recombinant proteins: A review of the critical steps in their biomanufacturing. Biotechnology Advances. 2020;43:107552. doi:10.1016/j.biotechadv.2020.107552
Shen CC, Sung LY, Lin SY, Lin MW, Hu YC. Enhancing Protein Production Yield from Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells by CRISPR Interference. ACS Synth Biol. 2017;6(8):1509-1519. doi:10.1021/acssynbio.7b00020
Holland I, Davies JA. Automation in the Life Science Research Laboratory. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2020;8:571777. doi:10.3389/fbioe.2020.571777
Falkenburger BH, Saridaki T, Dinter E. Cellular models for Parkinson’s disease. J Neurochem. 2016;139 Suppl 1:121-130. doi:10.1111/jnc.13618
Potekhina ES, Bass DY, Kelmanson IV, et al. Drug Screening with Genetically Encoded Fluorescent Sensors: Today and Tomorrow. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;22(1):148. doi:10.3390/ijms22010148
Wei F, Wang S, Gou X. A review for cell-based screening methods in drug discovery. Biophys Rep. 2021;7(6):504-516. doi:10.52601/bpr.2021.210042
Sajjad H, Imtiaz S, Noor T, Siddiqui YH, Sajjad A, Zia M. Cancer models in preclinical research: A chronicle review of advancement in effective cancer research. Animal Model Exp Med. 2021;4(2):87-103. doi:10.1002/ame2.12165
Weiskirchen S, Schröder SK, Buhl EM, Weiskirchen R. A Beginner’s Guide to Cell Culture: Practical Advice for Preventing Needless Problems. Cells. 2023;12(5):682. doi:10.3390/cells12050682
Wurm F, Wurm M. Cloning of CHO Cells, Productivity and Genetic Stability—A Discussion. Processes. 2017;5(2):20. doi:10.3390/pr5020020
Poirot L, Philip B, Schiffer-Mannioui C, et al. Multiplex Genome-Edited T-cell Manufacturing Platform for “Off-the-Shelf” Adoptive T-cell Immunotherapies. Cancer Res. 2015;75(18):3853-3864. doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-14-3321
Zhao Z, Shang P, Mohanraju P, Geijsen N. Prime editing: advances and therapeutic applications. Trends in Biotechnology. 2023;41(8):1000-1012. doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.03.004
Welch JT, Arden NS. Considering “clonality”: A regulatory perspective on the importance of the clonal derivation of mammalian cell banks in biopharmaceutical development. Biologicals. 2019;62:16-21. doi:10.1016/j.biologicals.2019.09.006

Viral Vector Production: Applications, Challenges, Advances

CYTENA team — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:02:44 GMT

Viral Vector Production for Biomedicine: Key Applications and Industry Trends

Allogeneic iPS Cell‐based Therapy: Key Techniques and Methods

CYTENA team — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:43 GMT

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are an incredibly powerful technology that continues to transform many facets of biomedicine . One particularly exciting area is the use of iPSC-derived cells as therapeutic agents. The development of allogeneic iPS cell-based therapies offers “off-the-shelf” therapies for regenerative medicine to treat conditions like cardiovascular disease, retinal degradation, and neurodegenerative disease, to name just a few (Fig. 1). Despite its therapeutic promise, allogeneic iPS cell‐based therapy development is a long and complex process with many challenges and potential pitfalls . This article will cover the core steps in developing these therapies, common barriers to success, and future directions in this exciting therapeutic field.

Figure 1. Somatic cells can be reprogrammed to a pluripotent state and then differentiated into different cell types for research and clinical applications.

Viral Vectors in Gene Therapy: Mechanisms, Applications, and Challenges

CYTENA team — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 06:59:41 GMT

How Viral Vectors Drive Gene Therapy

Hybridoma Technology: Best Practices and Future Trends

CYTENA team — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 06:57:55 GMT

Hybridoma Technology: Quality Control and Best Practices

Exploring Single-Cell Seeding Methods: From Basics to Breakthroughs

CYTENA team — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 06:57:01 GMT

Single-Cell Seeding: From Basics to Advanced Methods

The single-cell seeding process differs across laboratories and institutions, and there are many ways to perform single-cell seeding depending on the resources and equipment available ¹. While these methods can produce clonally distinct populations growing in a single well, they come with varying degrees of efficiency, risk, and consistency. Single-cell seeding is inherently challenging as it requires the addition of a single cell to a single well. Thus, the choice of method can significantly impact the success of a research project and the speed at which a potential therapeutic traverses the drug discovery pathway. Here, we discuss the different methods of single-cell seeding and monitoring, highlighting the relevant advantages and disadvantages and looking to the future of the single-cell seeding process.

Seeding

Accurate seeding of single cells into a single well underpins the success of many modern therapeutics. Indeed, cell-based therapies and interventions such as antibodies that require a cell to be produced begin with establishing a clonal cell population (Fig. 1) ². Modern regulatory standards require stringent documentation and proof of clonality ³, which is harder to achieve with some seeding methods than with others. Common methods used for single-cell seeding include:

Figure 1. Monoclonal antibodies are used to treat a wide range of diseases including cancer and autoimmune diseases, and each antibody requires a verified clonal cell line for production.

Limiting Dilution

This method for single-cell seeding requires diluting cells to a sufficiently low concentration that when the suspension is added to a well, there is a higher probability of single-cell dispensing ⁴. As such, this method does not guarantee a single cell per well but will also produce empty wells and wells with more than one cell. Limiting dilution does not require specialized equipment. However, it lacks the efficiency and reproducibility of more modern techniques.

Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS)

FACS is a type of flow cytometry that can sort heterogeneous mixtures of cells into different populations based on their size, granularity, and fluorescence characteristics. FACS machines can also be calibrated for single-cell dispensing into multi-well formats. Some cell types, like induced pluripotent stem cells, are sensitive to the pressure changes and shear forces experienced during flow cytometry. This limits the utility of FACS for some single-cell dispensing applications.

Microfluidics

Microfluidics technology facilitates the manipulation of small volumes of fluids through micrometer-scale channels, enabling close control over cellular environments, high-throughput analysis, and precision in cell dispensing ⁵. Although microfluidics systems are more expensive than conventional equipment, they are far more efficient and robust in terms of reproducibility. These systems are now commonly found in automated liquid handling machinery, which offer significant advantages over conventional manual methods.

Automated vs Manual

Automation offers significant advantages over manual methods in the single-cell seeding process. This is especially evident when automation is coupled with microfluidic systems.

Efficiency: Automation is faster than manual methods and can help to streamline research projects. Automated dispensing runs can be performed overnight without the need for researcher supervision, which can increase research output severalfold.

Lower Risk: Manual methods of single-cell seeding increase the chances of human error, which comes with significant risks. Contamination can occur from two clones entering the same well and from microbial sources like mycoplasma. Automation eliminates the chances of contamination.

Researcher-friendly: With automation, researchers don’t have to spend time manually pipetting wells, increasing their risk of repetitive strain injury. Furthermore, automation frees up researchers' time for other work, such as interpreting results or designing the following experiment.

Accuracy: Automation is more accurate than manual pipetting. Over long periods, the chances for human error increase while automation remains consistent. Once an effective protocol has been established, an automated system can repeat the exact protocol precisely at any time. This ensures consistency both within laboratories and across different institutions.

Cost: Automated systems require a substantial upfront investment compared to manual pipetting. However, they offer significant savings over time. Speed is critical in the competitive drug discovery market, and automated processes can give researchers an edge over the competition.

Scalability: With microfluidics and automation, single-cell seeding can be scaled down to save money on reagents. Automated processes can also seed many clones in a fraction of the time compared to manual methods, allowing researchers to scale up their research as necessary.

Verifying Clonality

Regulatory bodies require robust evidence that a cell line used as a therapy or to produce a therapy was generated from a single clonal population3. Thus, verifying clonality after single-cell dispensing is essential for ensuring success in drug discovery. Manual inspection of wells using a light microscope is time-consuming and error-prone, making it challenging to prove clonality to regulatory bodies. Ultimately, researchers using this method may need to pay for expensive next-generation sequencing to confirm their population is monoclonal.

The UP.SIGHT all-in-one single-cell dispenser from CYTENA uses a dual imaging system to ensure single-cell dispensing and makes it easy to prove clonality to regulatory bodies (Fig. 2). The UP.SIGHT takes an image during cell dispensing and when it is successfully seeded into the well. This advanced method saves hours of researcher time and eliminates the chance of false positives with a > 99.999% probability of monoclonality.

Figure 2. The UP.SIGHT’s imagining system enables a >97% single-cell dispensing efficiency, and its small footprint means it fits easily inside most biosafety cabinets.

Monitoring

After successful single-cell seeding, researchers must monitor cells carefully to select promising clones. Clonality alone does not mean the cell will proliferate quickly or produce a high target protein yield. There are different methods for monitoring cells, including manual inspection using a light microscope. However, advanced imaging methods using theUP.SIGHT from CYTENAautomatically tracks cell proliferation over time and provides researchers with images and crucial insights into cell proliferation and well confluency (Fig. 3).

In many cases, cell proliferation is not sufficient for establishing good hits. Determining the titer of target proteins produced by cells is often essential. The F.QUANT from CYTENA offers a quick and robust way to test the concentration of antibodies in a biological sample, making it ideal for selecting the best hits to pursue.

Conclusion and Future Technologies

Single-cell seeding is pivotal in cell-based therapies and drug discovery, where precision and reproducibility are paramount. While traditional methods like limiting dilution remain cost-effective to an extent, advanced techniques such as microfluidics and automation provide superior accuracy and efficiency. Improvements in automation and the integration of image-based analysis and hit selection will continue to streamline the single-cell seeding process. The rapid development of single-cell multi-omics and real-time monitoring technologies will provide deeper insights into cellular behaviors and interactions, enhancing our ability to select therapeutic clones. Cumulatively, these advancements will streamline the development of cell- and biologics-based therapies to treat various diseases.

Ready to take your place at the cutting edge of cell-based therapies? Get in touch with one of our experts today to book a demo for the UP.SIGHT all-in-one single-cell dispenser and imaging system.

References

Gross A, Schoendube J, Zimmermann S, Steeb M, Zengerle R, Koltay P. Technologies for Single-Cell Isolation. Int J Mol Sci. 2015;16(8):16897-16919. doi:10.3390/ijms160816897
Lu RM, Hwang YC, Liu IJ, et al. Development of therapeutic antibodies for the treatment of diseases. J Biomed Sci. 2020;27(1):1. doi:10.1186/s12929-019-0592-z
World Health Organization. WHO Expert Committee on Biological Standardization. World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser. 2013;(979):1-366, back cover.
Staszewski R. Cloning by limiting dilution: an improved estimate that an interesting culture is monoclonal. Yale J Biol Med. 1984;57(6):865-868.
Duncombe TA, Tentori AM, Herr AE. Microfluidics: reframing biological enquiry. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2015;16(9):554-567. doi:10.1038/nrm4041

Revolutionizing iPSC-Based Allogeneic Cell Therapies with Automation

CYTENA team — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 06:55:08 GMT

Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based allogeneic cell therapies are set to transform many fields of healthcare, especially regenerative medicine1. These therapies mean that donor-derived iPSCs can be modified and scaled up for use as “off-the-shelf” treatments for neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and retinal diseases, to name just a few. Automation is also emerging as a core pillar of modern drug development workflows, facilitating efficiency, reliability, scalability, and higher throughput. This article will discuss the many benefits of automation and how it leads to more efficient iPSC production and accelerates the next generation of allogeneic cell therapies.

Key Technologies in Automation

Automation technologies span the entire cell therapy development workflow, offering enormous benefits at each stage.

Single Cell Dispensing

Obtaining a monoclonal population is a requirement for cell-based therapies. Manual methods for achieving this are time-intensive and often rely on techniques like limiting dilution, which are inherently error-prone. Automation, on the other hand, all but guarantees clonality by integrating single-cell dispensing technology. Microfluidic systems and advanced imaging technologies are central to automation for single-cell dispensing. The UP.SIGHT from CYTENA exemplifies the latest in single-cell dispensing technology and offers researchers >97% single-cell dispensing efficiency.

Monitoring

Automation in iPSC generation includes monitoring clonal growth and confluency after seeding. These capabilities allow scientists to collect large amounts of data concerning clonal performance and viability without time-consuming manual tracking. This, in turn, enables better decision-making and saves countless hours of tedious labor (Fig. 1).

Figure 1: CYTENA’s C.STUDIO software paired with the UP.SIGHT facilitates accurate cell counting and user-friendly reporting.

Cell Culture

Automated cell culture allows for the monitoring of cell concentration and the provision of optimal growing conditions through the replenishing of culture media and the coating of well plates. Robotic handling allows iPSCs to be assayed for efficiency and for faster-growing clones to be selected and scaled up . Automated cell culture workflows facilitate the integration of seeding technologies and bioreactors for efficient iPSC production and expansion, ensuring pluripotent cells with the desired genetic alterations are carried forward. The C.STATION from CYTENA integrates high-end instruments to achieve iPSC cell line development within a single automated platform.

Benefits of Automation in iPSC-based Cell Therapy Generation

Automation enhances virtually every aspect of cell line development workflows, making it an essential consideration for companies looking to pioneer the next breakthrough and get ahead of the competition.

Efficiency

Automation enhances efficiency both in individual tasks and over the longer timelines involved in cell line development . Automated liquid handlers perform tasks more accurately and quickly than human operators and can be programmed to work around the clock to help researchers meet tight deadlines. Researchers can focus on other duties while automated systems perform dispensing tasks, ensuring reproducibility and traceability throughout the cell line development process.

The C.STATION from CYTENA is our complete end-to-end automated cell line development system. It incorporates the UP.SIGHT for delicate single-cell dispensing and our other high-end instrumentation to deliver an efficient and robust cell line development workflow.

Scale

With automation, researchers can work at a scale that best suits their research and is optimized for resource efficiency . Microfluidics systems and precise liquid dispensing mean iPSC-based allogeneic cell therapy workflows can be significantly scaled down to save money on consumables like cell culture medium and multi-well plates. Once the best clones are selected, automation allows these cells to be efficiently scaled up while ensuring optimal growing conditions . iPSCs are prone to losing essential characteristics like pluripotency over time . Efficient scaling means large batches of high-quality iPSCs can be produced quickly before critical traits are lost.

Reduced Contamination

Contamination in iPSC-based allogeneic cell therapy is incredibly costly. Cell lines are at risk of contamination from microbes like mycoplasma, other cell lines and clones, and cells within their clonal population that have lost pluripotency . Each of these scenarios carries unique risks that severely disrupt therapy development pipelines. Automated dispensing and liquid handling significantly reduce the chances of microbial contamination, which is more common with manual methods .

Reliability

Automation in iPSC generation means precise procedures can be repeated within and across laboratories. This reduces the inevitable reproducibility issues that occur with manual methods and multiple human operators. Furthermore, automation provides reliable and accurate dispensing and liquid handling. For example, the UP.SIGHT from CYTENA uses delicate dispensing to ensure that a single iPSC is dispensed without exposing it to shear forces that can compromise growth rates and viability.

Throughput

High throughput is essential for modern therapy development. Automated dispensing means thousands of single clones can be dispensed and validated quickly without manual input. Monitoring many clones produces high quantities of data that automated computerized systems can collect and manage instantly. The UP.SIGHT from CYTENA is paired with the dedicated software C.STUDIO , which collects crucial data on clonality and confluency.

Regulatory Compliance

iPSC-based allogeneic cell therapies require robust documentation to achieve regulatory compliance . This includes precise information about the source of cells, how they were handled, and proof that the population is monoclonal. Automated systems mean researchers can execute reproducible, standardized workflows for iPSC-based cell therapies and provide regulatory bodies with precise protocols that use current good manufacturing practices (cGMP). The UP.SIGHT from CYTENA has dual imaging technology that images cells as they are being dispensed and after they have settled in the well (Fig. 2). It also monitors clones as they expand, providing robust evidence of clonality that helps to streamline therapy development and avoid the common pitfalls of manual workflows.

Figure 2:The UP.SIGHT from CYTENA facilitates the detection and monitoring of single clones, helping to ensure regulatory compliance.

Conclusion

Automation is revolutionizing iPSC-based allogeneic cell therapy generation by enhancing efficiency, scalability, and reliability. Automated technologies streamline critical processes such as single-cell dispensing, monitoring, and cell culture, ensuring consistent results and reducing contamination risks. By enabling higher throughput and robust documentation, automation supports regulatory compliance and accelerates the development of next-generation therapies. As a result, automation is pivotal in advancing healthcare, paving the way for more breakthroughs in regenerative medicine.

The UP.SIGHT from CYTENA is a game-changer in cell line development. Schedule a demo today or contact our team for more details on this groundbreaking technology.

References

Singh VK, Kalsan M, Kumar N, Saini A, Chandra R. Induced pluripotent stem cells: applications in regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and drug discovery. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2015;3. doi:10.3389/fcell.2015.00002
Cerneckis J, Cai H, Shi Y. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs): molecular mechanisms of induction and applications. Sig Transduct Target Ther. 2024;9(1):112. doi:10.1038/s41392-024-01809-0
Schneider G. Automating drug discovery. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2018;17(2):97-113. doi:10.1038/nrd.2017.232
Torres-Acosta MA, Lye GJ, Dikicioglu D. Automated liquid-handling operations for robust, resilient, and efficient bio-based laboratory practices. Biochem Eng J. 2022;188(108713). doi:10.1016/j.bej.2022.108713
Gross A, Schoendube J, Zimmermann S, Steeb M, Zengerle R, Koltay P. Technologies for Single-Cell Isolation. Int J Mol Sci. 2015;16(8):16897-16919. doi:10.3390/ijms160816897
Doulgkeroglou MN, Di Nubila A, Niessing B, et al. Automation, Monitoring, and Standardization of Cell Product Manufacturing. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2020;8:811. doi:10.3389/fbioe.2020.00811
Schwedhelm I, Zdzieblo D, Appelt-Menzel A, et al. Automated real-time monitoring of human pluripotent stem cell aggregation in stirred tank reactors. Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):12297. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-48814-w
Tristan CA, Ormanoglu P, Slamecka J, et al. Robotic high-throughput biomanufacturing and functional differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cell Reports. 2021;16(12):3076-3092. doi:10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.11.004
Holland I, Davies JA. Automation in the Life Science Research Laboratory. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2020;8(571777). doi:10.3389/fbioe.2020.571777
Madrid M, Lakshmipathy U, Zhang X, et al. Considerations for the development of iPSC-derived cell therapies: a review of key challenges by the JSRM-ISCT iPSC Committee. Cytotherapy. Published online June 2024:S1465324924007308. doi:10.1016/j.jcyt.2024.05.022
McKenna DH, Perlingeiro RCR. Development of allogeneic iPS cell-based therapy: from bench to bedside. EMBO Mol Med. 2023;15(2):e15315. doi:10.15252/emmm.202115315

Mammalian Cell Line Development: Applications and Common Challenges

CYTENA team — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 06:54:07 GMT