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The MaxCyte GT
Brochure: The MaxCyte® GT™

MaxCyte Platform > Instruments > MaxCyte GT

The MaxCyte® GT™ Transfection System is a cGMP-compliant, scalable therapeutic system with unparalleled consistency, scalability, and cell loading efficiency which is ideal for clinically-oriented cell modification. It enables the discovery, development and manufacturing of innovative therapeutic products for a wide range of diseases by overcoming the existing obstacles of cell therapy with its high-volume, rapid and inherently safe technology. The MaxCyte GT uses simple, computer-controlled protocols to transfect up to 1 x 1010 cells in less than 30 minutes and is capable of loading multiple molecules (DNA, mRNA, siRNA, proteins, and small molecules) into autologous or allogenic immune, stem/progenitor or somatic cells. The system is pre-configured with protocols optimized for specific cell types and applications. This cell processing system has received Master File designation with the CBER Division of the U.S. FDA and has been cleared by NIH's RAC and Health Canada.


MaxCyte GT Transfection System Applications

MaxCyte GT Features

 
Simple:
 Ease and flexibility of use
High Yield:
 >90% viability & recovery for many cell types
High Efficiency:
 >90% cell loading & transfection efficiency for many cell types
Scalable:
 5x105 cells in seconds; up to 1x1010 cells in less than 30 minutes
Safe:
 Chemically defined media (no added 'biologicals')
Rugged:
 Reproducible processing
Quality:
 cGMP compliant, sterile closed system
Regulatory:
 Master File on record with FDA, CE marked

Transfecting Cells with the MaxCyte® GT™ Transfection System

The MaxCyte GT can (co)transfect a wide range of cell types including autologous or allogenic immune, stem/progenitor or somatic cells for ex vivo cell therapy. The MaxCyte GT is a closed, sterile, cGMP-compliant system. It rapidly and reproducibly transfects up to 1x1010 cells in less than 30 minutes using simple, computer-controlled electroporation protocols.

GT Transfection Workflow

Step 1: Cells harvested from a patient or donor and the molecule(s) to be transfected are resuspended in up to 100 ml of MaxCyte electroporation buffer and transferred to the single-use, sterile processing assembly. The processing assembly is then loaded onto the MaxCyte GT instrument.

Step 2: The user simply selects the desired electroporation protocol, clicks the start button, and cells from the loading bag will flow gently into the GT electroporation chamber, where precisely optimized electrical pulses load the molecules into the cells.

Step 3: Loaded cells emerging from the chamber flow into a sterile, collection bag. Transfection is now complete, and the cells, undamaged and unstressed, are ready for final processing for cell therapy or cryopreservation.

High Efficiency Transfection using Pre-loaded Cell-type Specific Electroporation Protocols

The MaxCyte GT enables transfection of a variety of cells using preprogrammed electroporation protocols which are optimized for cell viability and loading efficiency. Below are examples of transfection efficiencies and cell viability levels for a variety of cell types following standard MaxCyte cell loading.

High Efficiency, High Viability Transfection
Figure 1. High Efficiency, High Viability Transfection. Ten different cell types were transfected with 200μg/ml pGFP DNA using the appropriate pre-loaded protocol. 24 hrs post transfection cells were examined for cell viability (% cells excluding propidium iodide) and transfection efficiency (% GFP+ cells).

The Diversity of MaxCyte GT Applications

The flexibility of the MaxCyte GT enables a wide variety of clinically-oriented applications. Below are sample data sets for several diverse cell modification applications.

The Diversity of MaxCyte GT Applications
Electroporation by itself does not lead to appreciable loss in dendritic cell (DC) viability, phenotype or T cell activation function. MaxCyte GT loading with DNA, mRNA or protein (including tumor lysates) antigens results in increased antigen uptake compared to co-incubation controls. The amount of antigen loading can be controlled to deliver optimal concentrations of processed antigen-peptide complex presentation in functionally mature DC resulting in enhanced T cell activation and anti-tumor efficacy.

The Diversity of MaxCyte GT Applications
T cells can be effectively loaded with DNA or mRNA encoding chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) or other molecules. High viability and efficiency of CAR molecules is observed over multiple days following mRNA loading. CAR-engineered T cells exhibit enhanced anti-tumor activity and redirect cytolytic response toward tumor cells expressing antigens encoded by the CAR molecule.

The Diversity of MaxCyte GT Applications
MaxCyte GT processing results in high viability and efficient loading of siRNA into cells. Loading of siRNA results in effective gene product knock down. Level and duration of gene product knock down can be engineered to set-point. Biological effect of siRNA delivery is specific (on-target), robust, and scalable. Non-specific off-target effects, often observed with other chemical transfection approaches, are not detected when using MaxCyte electroporation.

The Diversity of MaxCyte GT Applications
Human skeletal muscle cells (hSKMC) are engineered using plasmid DNA to transiently over express HIF-2α, an early transcription initiation factor in the angiogenesis pathway. Loaded cells exhibit high viability and robust expression of HIF-2 α protein. Engineered cells exhibit enhanced levels of secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an essential bio-tropic factor responsible for enhancing angiogeneic activity of hSKMC for cardiac regenerative therapies.