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Transforming adult differentiated somatic cells (e.g., skin fibroblasts, peripheral blood cells) into pluripotent stem cells has revolutionized many cellular-based biomedical research, especially in disease modeling and personalized alternative therapeutics development. Human induced-pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have become a powerful tool for differentiating into diverse cell types (e.g., cardiomyocytes, hepatocytes, and neurons), supporting advances in regenerative medicine and enabling patient-specific disease modeling, particularly for genetic disorders. Figure 1 below provides general approaches in hiPSCs research.
Figure 1. Common Research Workflow Using Human Induced-Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSCs)
Generated hiPSCs from reprogramming adult cells can be used for various experiments, including cell line establishment by genome editing, subcloning, or differentiation to specific fates.
However, hiPSCs use is challenged by phenotypic variability, not only between in vitro hiPSC lines from different sources (even with the same mutation), but also among lines derived from the same donor. This inconsistency may result from individual genetic mosaicism, culture-induced de novo mutations, or high mechanical stress sensitivity. Additionally, concerns about genomic instability, i.e., chromosomal aberrations, that can emerge on small subclones after extended culturing or specific treatment may further complicate the reliability of results. To address these challenges and achieve statistically robust, reproducible outcomes, researchers must work with large cohorts and implement standardized, scalable workflows. In this context, automation is essential.
Formulatrix® Cellmatic System
Formulatrix has developed a fully automated cell culture instrument, Cellmatic, that performs cell culture work and experiments from start to finish. iPSCs maintenance and expansion, as well as differentiation protocols, can be executed on the system with little human interaction.
Figure 2. Automated Cell Culture Workflow in Cellmatic
The Cellmatic system consists of interconnected and modular cabinets to support cell culture automation.