Figure 1. Uneven early cell attachment on microcarriers. Microscopy image showing variable cell attachment across microcarriers during the early seeding phase. Some carriers show visible cell attachment, while others remain sparsely populated, illustrating how early seeding conditions can affect attachment consistency. Poor cell attachment is one of the most frustrating issues in [...]
“Why is microcarrier dissolution taking longer than expected?” Microcarrier dissolution is a key step during harvest, but delays are usually linked to how the process is handled. In our experience, when the workflow is well understood and the steps are followed properly, dissolution is straightforward. When something isn’t quite right, or the process is [...]
Microcarrier culture illustrating uneven cell seeding, where cells occupy some microcarriers and become confluent and clump, while others remain sparsely populated or empty. “Why are my cells forming clumps instead of evenly coating microcarriers?” Cell clumping is one of the most frequently encountered challenges in microcarrier-based culture, particularly when working with mesenchymal [...]
“Why are my cells sticking to the vessel when I’m using microcarriers?” It’s one of the most common questions researchers ask when working with microcarrier-based cell culture, especially with highly adherent cells like mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). You’ve added microcarriers. Your cells are viable. Agitation looks reasonable. Yet after 24 hours, cells are clearly [...]
We were pleased to host Prof. Kristopher Kilian from UNSW Sydney for our September webinar, where he presented on: Inspired by Nature: Biomaterials Design for Therapeutic Cell Production and Delivery Presentation Highlights Supramolecular, self-healing hydrogels: Prof. Kilian presented Trpzip hydrogels with tuneable mechanics, low yield point, shear-thinning, and self-healing behaviour, along with stress relaxation similar [...]
Building a Molecular “Lego Set” to Solve the Challenges of Cell Culture We were pleased to welcome Dr. Daniel Peters, CEO and co-founder of MarraBio Ltd, for our July 2025 Smart MCs Webinar, held in collaboration with TCS Biosciences. In this engaging session, Dan introduced a revolutionary approach to mammalian cell culture using [...]
We were pleased to host A/Prof. Khoon Lim from the University of Sydney for our June webinar, where he presented on: Light-Activated Biomaterials as Bioinks for 3D Printing Presentation Highlights Hydrogel Development for 3D Bioprinting: A/Prof. Khoon Lim discussed his group's work on hydrogel-based biomaterials, focusing on gelatin and synthetic polymers like polyvinyl alcohol for [...]
We were pleased to host A/Prof. Reza Nosrati from Monash University for our April webinar, where he presented on:From Engineering Reproduction to Navigating the Academic PathPresentation HighlightsPaper-based Sperm Assays – Low-cost diagnostic tools detecting live sperm motility and concentration.AI-Powered Morphology Analysis – Real-time, label-free sperm classification using ensemble machine learning.Virtual Staining Models – Predicting acrosome [...]
Small-scale microcarrier cultures play a crucial role in process development, allowing researchers to refine conditions before scaling up to larger bioreactors. However, managing small-scale cultures requires careful optimisation to ensure reliable and reproducible results. Here are five essential tips to enhance your small-scale microcarrier culture and set the foundation for successful scale-up. Use a Non-Adherent [...]
We were pleased to host A/Prof. Lana McClements from the University of Technology Sydney for our March webinar, where she presented on:3D Modelling of Tissues Relevant to Reproductive HealthPresentation Highlights3D Bioprinted Placental Organoids – Used to model placental development and pregnancy complications.Placenta-on-a-Chip – A microfluidic system replicating placental function and preeclampsia.3D Cardiac Spheroids – Investigating [...]
