NK & CAR-NK Cells

This publication evaluates extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from interleukin-15-stimulated natural killer cells expanded in a PBS Vertical-Wheel® Bioreactor against osimertinib-resistant EGFR-mutant lung cancer. NK-EVs contained characteristic EV markers and cytotoxic proteins, including perforin and granzyme B, and demonstrated activity in 2D and 3D cultures. Combined treatment with carboplatin enhanced antitumor activity and reduced tumor burden in xenograft models. The study examines apoptosis, inflammatory signaling, and immune checkpoint regulation while demonstrating the potential…

This white paper presents a closed-system workflow for CAR-NK cell expansion and scale-up using PBS Vertical-Wheel® bioreactors integrated with XCell® alternating tangential flow (ATF) perfusion technology. Process-development studies were performed first in PBS-MINI systems to evaluate agitation rates, seeding densities, feeding approaches, and shear-protection strategies before scale-up to PBS-3 bioreactors. Fed-batch and perfusion-based processes were compared using cell growth, metabolite monitoring, viability, apoptosis assessment, CAR expression, and potency measurements. Perfusion…

This poster reviews key process development considerations required to achieve robust, efficient, and scalable manufacturing of allogeneic cell therapies**.** The authors discuss major scale-up challenges including equipment selection, hydrodynamic control, oxygen transfer, medium exchange, and cell harvest operations. Case studies demonstrate how process optimization and Vertical-Wheel bioreactor technology can reduce seed train requirements, shorten manufacturing timelines, decrease facility footprint, and integrate closed-system operation. The work also presents methodologies for…

This white paper evaluates donor-derived natural killer cell expansion and scale-up in PBS Vertical-Wheel® Bioreactors compared with G-Rex systems. NK cells demonstrated greater cumulative fold expansion and cytotoxic activity across the evaluated agitation rates. PBS-3 cultures achieved higher cell densities than static controls and generated data for modeling larger production scales. The paper addresses seed-train strategy, workflow design, resource utilization, and manufacturing implications for allogeneic NK-cell therapies. Results support Vertical-Wheel® Technology as a scalable…

This application note evaluates scalable CAR-NK cell expansion in PBS Vertical-Wheel® Bioreactors integrated with XCell® alternating tangential flow (ATF) perfusion. Human peripheral blood NK cells were activated, transduced, and expanded in PBS-3 bioreactors using batch, fed-batch, or perfusion feeding strategies. Studies assessed cell growth, metabolism, apoptosis, CAR expression, harvest, cryopreservation, and cytotoxic potency. A responsive perfusion strategy based on cell density and glucose consumption improved expansion compared with fixed perfusion schedules while maintaining…

This case study summarizes two investigations of natural killer (NK) cells in PBS Biotech Vertical-Wheel bioreactors versus G-Rex static cultures. In PBS-Mini studies, NK-cell potency and cumulative fold expansion increased with agitation. In PBS-3 studies, continuous perfusion and process optimization improved CAR-NK expansion and cytotoxic potency versus optimized G-Rex workflows. Potency was measured by cytotoxicity assays, EC50 analysis, and relative potency calculations. Across both studies, Vertical-Wheel cultures showed improved cytotoxic activity, indicating greater potency at lower…