Microcarriers are used to provide cost-effective scale up for attachment-dependent cells.

Many large-scale production processes for biologicals use attachment-dependent cell lines. Microcarrier beads were developed as a cost-effective and space-conscious means of increasing the available surface area for cell attachment.

Cultispher® Microcarriers offer unique advantages for scale-up processes, including:

• Cavernous structure allows for significantly greater numbers of cells per bead (> 2,000 cells per bead).
• Highly cross-linked matrix and interior surfaces better protect cells from shear stress.
• Because gelatin is derived from collagen, cells attach more readily and proliferate in an environment that more closely approximates an in vivo environment.
• Complete dissolving of gelatin matrix with trypsin yields a 95%.100% recovery.
• Easily scaled-up by 50 fold increments from 1 to 50 to 2,500 L bioreactors.
• Very stable showing no signs of mechanical deterioration in continuous cultures exceeding 1,000 hours.

HyQSpheres are manufactured utilizing the same core material (cross-linked polystyrene) that T-Flasks, roller bottles, and similar plastic culture ware are made from , thus facilitating the attachment process. This rigid substrate also provides optimal durability (no gragmentation) and does not allow the extra-cellular matrix to grow into the bead.

HyQSpheres are available in both collagen-coated and Animal Derived Compnent Free (ADCF^™) formats. This facilitates adaptation from other microcarriers that utilize animal-derived components as well as transitioning into ADCF cell culture systems.

HyQSpheres incorporate various surface modications, including cationic charges, and animal-based proteins such as collagen or proprietary recombinant proteins, to further enhance the attachment process and to facilitate their use with a wide array of cell lines and applications.