Cellino: Scaling Stem Cell Therapies with AI & Machine Learning

Cellino: Automating Stem Cell Production for Wider Access

Cellino, a pioneering company, recently showcased its innovative platform at TechCrunch Disrupt 2021’s Startup Battlefield. The platform is designed to automate the production of stem cells, potentially revolutionizing access to cell therapies through the integration of AI, machine learning, advanced hardware, sophisticated software, and even laser technology.

Revolutionizing Regenerative Medicine

The company’s core objective is to significantly reduce the costs associated with human cell manufacturing while simultaneously boosting production yields. Cellino operates within the rapidly evolving field of regenerative medicine, where advancements in gene and cell therapies promise potential cures for numerous debilitating diseases.

For instance, personalized human retinal cells could offer a treatment for age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness. However, current cell therapy accessibility is limited due to the manual, inefficient, and costly nature of cell production.

The Limitations of Manual Cell Production

Currently, cells utilized in clinical trials are largely produced manually. Scientists meticulously examine cells, relying on extensive training and expertise to identify and remove low-quality specimens using a pipette. This process is incredibly time-intensive and results in low yields – typically between 10% and 20% of cells meeting the stringent quality standards for human transplantation.

Cellino’s Automated Approach

Cellino is focused on enhancing this process to generate a greater quantity of higher-quality cells. Their stated goal is to achieve a yield of at least 80% within the next three years.

This improvement will be achieved by automating all manual steps in the production process through the application of machine learning techniques.

Leveraging AI for Cell Quality Assessment

To accurately differentiate between high and low-quality cells, Cellino is building extensive datasets to train algorithms. These algorithms learn to assess cell quality based on various factors, including cell morphology – encompassing shape, size, and density.

Furthermore, fluorescence-based surface markers are utilized to identify crucial characteristics of the cell line, such as protein location.

By employing machine learning and AI, and adhering to established biological assays recognized by the FDA, the system aims to eliminate human subjectivity and the variability it introduces into cell production.

Precision Laser Technology for Cell Removal

Once the software identifies low-quality cells, a laser is employed for targeted removal. The laser generates cavitation bubbles that effectively eliminate the cell without harming surrounding cells, avoiding the thermal damage associated with heat dissipation.

This technique offers superior precision, with a 5-micron resolution – considering cells are 10-15 microns in size – and a throughput of approximately 5,000 cells per minute, significantly exceeding manual methods.

Reducing Costs and Expanding Access

This automation and increased efficiency have the potential to dramatically reduce costs, currently nearing a million dollars per patient for clinical trials involving outsourced cell production. Cellino envisions lowering these costs to the tens of thousands of dollars.

Scaling cell production will also facilitate personalized cell therapies for a wider patient base, moving beyond reliance on limited and often genetically homogenous stem cell banks.

Unlike banked cells, which often necessitate immunosuppressants due to potential rejection, personalized therapies utilize a patient’s own cells, eliminating this requirement.

The Origins of Cellino’s Technology

The laser-based technology was initially developed by Cellino co-founder and CEO, Nabiha Saklayen, who patented a cellular laser editing invention during her PhD studies in Physics at Harvard. Encouraged by collaborators like George Church and David Scadden, she pursued the creation of a startup.

Saklayen emphasizes the importance of a strong support network in her entrepreneurial journey. She quickly recruited Marinna Madrid, an applied physicist and co-inventor of laser-based intracellular delivery techniques, as her co-founder.

To gain guidance on building a startup, Saklayen actively engaged with the Boston area startup ecosystem, connecting with experts in biotech and business.

Building a Complementary Founding Team

This networking led to the addition of Mattias Wagner, Cellino’s co-founder and CTO, who brought extensive experience in optics and instrumentation. Saklayen highlights the complementary skillsets of the founding team, combining technological innovation with business acumen.

Funding and Future Collaborations

Since its founding in 2017, Cellino has secured $16 million in seed funding, led by The Engine and Khosla Ventures, with participation from Humboldt Fund and 8VC.

The company is currently collaborating with the NIH on compatibility studies, comparing cells produced by its system with those already undergoing testing in human trials for retinal diseases.

Cellino’s long-term goals include expanding its system’s application to areas such as Parkinson’s disease, muscle disorders, and skin grafts.

Democratizing Cell Therapy Access

Cellino presented at TechCrunch Disrupt to raise awareness about its work and attract new talent. Saklayen’s primary objective is to promote the idea of democratizing and industrializing cell therapies, ensuring accessibility for all patients.

She believes Cellino’s automated system has the potential to manufacture cells for every individual, offering a personalized solution that addresses the limitations of “off-the-shelf” therapies, particularly in an increasingly diverse population.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvvsZFO0KJE