Call for Speakers 2025

Automated systems enhance throughput, accuracy, and efficiency in life science labs but are usually limited to specific, labor-intensive steps. The Robotic-enabled Biological Automation platform (ReBia) automates the entire tissue culture workflow, including microscopic imaging, for creating three-dimensional human tissue models like epidermal skin, airway epithelium, and spheroid-based tumors. This automation supports the 3R initiatives—replacement, reduction, and refinement of animal testing—by improving availability and standardization. AI integration in the ReBia platform monitors Tissue Engineering processes to increase robustness. Machine learning will further aid data analysis, detecting morphological changes in response to drug treatments, thus enhancing drug screening and efficacy assessment. A comparative drug screening studies will highlight the full potential of automation and AI in life sciences.

Antleron developed a custom bioreactor setup with a mineralized tissue model mimetic of the human bone, to enhance in-vitro implant assessment through human mesenchymal stem cells’ differentiation towards the osteo-lineage. Cell viability and differentiation are measured via lactate production, alkaline phosphatase activity, and gene expression. Implants, e.g. from titanium or polymer, were tested for interaction with the model environment. Successful cell ingrowth was shown for the different evaluated implant materials, indicating their potential for in vivo applications as well as validating the performance of the bone-mimetic in-vitro testing environment. This bespoke bioreactor serves as a scalable, biologically relevant model for bone implant testing, potentially reducing animal testing and accelerating personalized implant development.

In this presentation, I will discuss the acoustofluidic trap, a tool for precise 3D cell proliferation and function analysis in levitation. Our prototype integrates with any microscope, enabling continuous perfusion experiments with temperature and flow control under optical inspection. Furthermore, I will present a mathematical model and an FEM-based COMSOL simulation to define the acoustic mode and nodal positions in a spherical cavity, aligned with the microscope’s field of view and depth of field. In sterile conditions, we conducted 55-hour continuous perfusion experiments with the K562 cell line, allowing deterministic monitoring. This acoustofluidic platform facilitates in vitro cell testing, imitating in vivo conditions for cell function tests and cell–cell interactions.

In order to investigate clonal heterogeneity, we have multi-regional cancer organoids for 6 patients. The available organoid biobank is being utilised to investigate various mechanistic questions in lung cancer progression such as the mechanistic changes responsible for cancer initiation, how T-cell interaction modulates clonal selection, and how co-culture with various other microenvironmental cells modulate treatment response. Ongoing efforts focus on generating alveolar organoids from primary lung tissue and developing organoids from patients with specific driver mutation backgrounds. We also hope to develop organoid lines representing ethnic diversity. The ultimate aim of this project is to significantly contribute to understanding tumor evolution and effective therapeutic strategies through the systematic derivation of patient-derived multicellular models.

The development of industrial bioprocesses starts with creating a producer cell line in research labs. High-throughput screening identifies the most productive cell, which is then passed to process engineering. This selection occurs under lab conditions, while cells must perform under different large-scale bioprocess conditions with fluctuating pH, oxygen, and nutrients. BiProMicro bridges this gap, linking cell line development with bioprocess development through predictive screening. Using microfluidic single-cell cultivation, BiProMicro studies cell lines under precisely controlled, adjustable conditions. Microfluidic cultivation with live cell imaging enables detailed observation of cellular behavior. Rapid changes in conditions simulate the environmental gradients of large-scale bioreactors. This approach assesses cell line robustness and suitability for industrial-scale bioproduction early, ensuring a smooth transition from lab to large-scale.

Antleron’s CellGuide® is a smart bioprocessing platform for early-stage developers of adherent cell-based CGTs and biologics. It accelerates process development with scalable, custom fixed bed bioreactors and digital tools like process kinetics and economics models. By using a digital twin and custom fixed beds, CellGuide® quickly screens bioprocess strategies, reducing time and cost at lab-scale and aiding early decision-making. It supports high throughput screening and efficient scaling to commercial manufacturing. CellGuide® has shown versatility across various cell sources, achieving high yields and cost reductions. It also facilitates innovative solutions like in-vitro tissue model development. Overall, CellGuide® offers a sustainable, affordable bioprocess development platform for personalized CGT and regenerative medicine applications.

Two-photon polymerization (2PP) possesses genuine 3D writing capabilities and allows the fabrication of intricately designed constructs with arbitrary geometry. As the demand for precise microstructures grows, two-photon polymerization has become an attractive technique for crafting intricate microstructures with exceptional resolution and accuracy. Vital3D Technologies combines stereolithography printer architecture with 2PP printing capabilities to achieve high-precision 3D printing without losing any speed. With our FemtoBrushTM technology, we can dynamically adjust the 3D-printing resolution by elongating and rotating the laser beam shape. This allows fast and reliable printing for microstructures.

In this talk, we’ll dive into Arralyze’s revolutionary CellShepherd, a cutting-edge device designed for cell dispensing, imaging, and isolation. With gentle handling that keeps cells alive, CellShepherd ensures functional analysis without compromising cell integrity. At its core are Arralyze's glass-bottom nanowells, featuring advanced microstructures that deliver unparalleled optical clarity for precise microscopy. This innovation is set to transform how we study and analyze cells, providing optimal results with the highest efficiency. Whether you’re in industry or academia, CellShepherd is the tool to unlock new frontiers in cellular analysis.

Mammalian cells, these wild living creatures, are sometimes difficult to tame and control in culture. Different medium and serum charges, culture conditions, operator handling, and not to forget the cell age, its population doublings, have a significant impact on the cell quality. Either you live with it and say, “this is biology”, or you try to standardize your cell culture. We will present ways to establish a “Good Cell Culture Practice”, convert cultured cells into a precise reagent, and give guidance on the qualification of cell banks.

The majority of the current cancer research is based on 2D cell cultures and animal models. These methods have limitations, including different expression of key factors involved in carcinogenesis and metastasis, depending on culture conditions. Addressing these differences is crucial in obtaining physiologically relevant results. Stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is linked to the increased invasive potential and metastasis, thus exploring the expression of this markers in a different growth conditions is essential. We report plasticity of expression of selected stem cell and EMT markers in different culture conditions, pointing to the importance of spatial parameters. The most significant difference is the expression of adherent cell junction protein E-cadherin, which changes dramatically between standard 2D culture, floating spheroid culture and matrigel scaffolded culture. As a step towards understanding the reasons causing these discrepancies, we have created a mathematical model of tensions within the 3D bioprinted culture.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including small (exosomes) and large EVs (microvesicles), are membrane-derived structures crucial for intercellular communication, biological processes and diseases. Our study aims to investigate the biogenesis, production and therapeutic potential of EVs, focusing on the modulation of ESCRT (Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport) pathway. Our approach includes the full molecular characterization through advanced methods and the exploitation of Lab-on-chip (LOC) technologies. Aim of the work is the enhancement of EVs production mimicking physiological environments. This will involve the use of microfluidic devices to culture cells, comparing EVs yield and cargo. Also, the impact of pharmacological agents, such as Tipifarnib and Doxorubicin, on EVs production and ESCRT pathway modulation will be assessed. Preliminary results indicate that dynamic culturing conditions significantly enhance EVs production with perspective to hospital-scale production and drug delivery.

Liquid biopsy and the chance to use selected biomarkers from biological fluids, could strongly contribute to the improvement of patient-oriented methods, avoiding invasive assays and tissue biopsies. Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) act both as snapshots of the cells they originate from and as depository of important information, facilitating direct extracellular transfer of proteins, lipids, and miRNAs/mRNAs/DNAs. Despite EVs are on the rise for the possibility to be considered as powerful biomarkers, their isolation and characterization are still challenging. We aim to implement Lab-On-Chip (LoC) technologies for EVs studies. Our approach is to design customizable LoC devices based on the experimental needs, to perform fluid dynamic simulations to verify geometries and to fabricate them. Combining microfluidic approach with electrochemical detections we realized different devices for EVs production, isolation and characterization.