NUCEL GROUP OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR THERAPY

Graduated in Chemical Engineering from the Federal University of Rio Grande – FURG (2013). She received a Master’s degree (2015) and doctorate (2019) in Chemical Engineering from the Federal University of São Carlos – UFSCar. She has experience in the area of animal cell cultivation technology and bioreactor operation. Currently, she attends a post-doctorate at the NUCEL Group of Cell and Molecular Therapy, working in the area of biopharmaceutical production and development of bioprocesses for the cultivation of beta-pancreatic cells.

Areas of expertise:

1. Production of recombinant proteins rhPDGF-BB and rhRSPO1 using HEK293 cells: optimization of operating conditions in a bioreactor.
2. Evaluation of platforms for in vitro cultivation and functional maintenance of beta-pancreatic cells.

Among the mammalian cells used for biopharmaceutical production, human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) stand out for their low immunogenic risk and the production of recombinant proteins with post-translational properties, very similar to that found in human cells. For the development and establishment of biopharmaceutical production processes in an efficient and cost-effective manner, cells expressing the recombinant protein of interest are cultivated in suspension in bioreactors. Recombinant proteins rhPDGF-BB and rhRSPO1 are of great relevance for application in the clinical area; however, there are no studies in the literature evaluating the production of these factors in HEK293 cells cultivated in bioreactors.In this line of research, we propose the production of these factors using HEK293 cells, already established by the NUCEL Group, which will be adapted to suspended cultivation in a serum-free environment. Different modes of operation and supplementation of the cultivation’s environment in the bioreactor in the bench test will be rated in order to optimize the production of rhPDGF-BB and rhRSPO1 factors. To evaluate bio production processes, it will be necessary to monitor cell growth, viability, pH and metabolic profile of glucose and glutamine intake, lactate, and ammonia production. ELISA will monitor the production of rhPDGF-BB and rhRSPO1 factors and purification efficiency. SDS-PAGE and Western Blot will evaluate the quality of purified factors, and structural analysis through testing with PNGase F protease and lectin panel. Next, the factors rhPDGF-BB and rhRSPO1 will then be used in different platforms for in vitro cultivation of beta-pancreatic cells. Theproliferation and functional maintenance analyses of beta-pancreatic cells will evaluate the cellular response related to rhPDGF-BB and rhRSPO1 factors and mechanical stimuli present in the growing environment. 

Illustration of the sequence of steps and objectives involved in the Projects “Production of recombinant proteins rhPDGF-BB and rhRSPO1 utilizing HEK293 cells” and “Evaluation of platforms for in vitro cultivation and functional maintenance of beta-pancreatic cells”.