For decades, primary cell culture has shaped scientific research. It has provided valuable insights into signaling pathways, gene expression, and cellular processes. The in vitro culture has facilitated the exploration of biological sciences at genetic and cellular levels. These cells are powerful tools in preclinical or investigational studies. Therefore, several private organizations have risen to avail them for in vitro culture. This blog discusses the need for the culture of primary cells and the factors to consider before procuring them from a cell culture research company.
Primary Cell Culture
Cell culture involves cell lines and primary cells. The latter are extracted directly from the tissue. Several reasons make them more suitable candidates for research than other experimental models like cell lines or animals.
- Primary cells retain tissue-specific characteristics, providing a better representation of tissue than cell lines.
- Primary cell culture allows extensive experimentation and conducting numerous assays simultaneously, which is challenging in animal models.
- The studies with primary cells produce more physiologically relevant results as compared to cell lines.
- Animal studies have ethical implications, which are absent in primary cell culture.
- The culture of primary cells is easier to manage than experiments on animals, even facilitating genetic manipulation.
- It also reduces the cost and time required for animal studies.
Although in vivo models integrate the complexity of the biological systems, much of the investigational research is performed on primary cells for translation into animal models at later stages.
Applications of Primary Cell Culture
Primary cells have been instrumental in biomedical research with their diverse applications.
Gene Editing:
The culture of primary cells has enabled modifications of gene sequence. Genetic engineering has assisted in understanding the role of genes and their products in developmental processes and disease pathogenesis. New techniques such as CRISPR-Cas have given a significant boost to this field. Additionally, genetic manipulation has facilitated the development of therapies like CAR T-cell therapy, gene therapy, and vaccines. The genetic modifications have also driven the production of monoclonal antibodies and biosimilars in large quantities.
Drug Discovery:
In-depth examination of signaling networks, genes implicated, and alterations in cellular functions associated with an illness has been possible due to primary cell research. Drug discovery has therefore accelerated as a result of our growing understanding of the causes and progression of diseases, which has uncovered possible therapeutic targets.
Drug Screening:
In its early phases, the drug discovery process produces a number of leads or candidates. However, assessing every lead in humans is a time-consuming, expensive, and difficult process. Consequently, choosing a single candidate with minimal toxicity and great efficacy is crucial. Primary cell culture permits the high-throughput screening of all the leads in laboratory settings before proceeding to the next stage. Thus, it substantially reduces time, cost, and labour.
Artificial Tissues:
Severe organ or tissue damage often entails transplant of its healthy counterpart. However, donor scarcity leads to long waiting times and high mortality rates. Therefore, researchers are attempting to create three-dimensional tissue substitutes, such as skin substitutes, artificial liver, bioartificial kidneys, etc.
Induced pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs):
In 2006, Shinya Yamanaka dedifferentiated primary somatic cells into stem cells, referred to as iPSCs. This breakthrough has led to many research labs preparing iPSCs from individual somatic cells to acquire large quantities of stem cells. Moreover, iPSCs also account for the variation among individuals, encouraging their use in personalized medicine.
Cell Culture Research Company
The diverse advantages and applications of primary cell research have led to rising demands for these cells in research laboratories. However, researchers face quite a few challenges in obtaining them.
- The isolation of primary cells is a complex and time-consuming procedure, incurring high costs.
- Additionally, isolated cells require thorough characterization along with robust testing for contamination.
- The yield and purity of these cells are low.
- Repeated isolations show inconsistencies in the final product.
As a result, cell culture research organizations have emerged to provide these cells after meticulous testing and characterization. However, many of them do not follow strict quality standards, resulting in contaminated products, batch variation, low purity or yield. Since research on these cells has subsequent use in therapeutic interventions, their procurement from a trusted source or manufacturer is necessary. However, the question arises of how to recognize the right cell culture research company or organization. There are a few factors one can keep in mind before making the purchase.
- Does the provider follow aseptic techniques, standard culture practices, and adequate infrastructure?
- Can the provider ensure batch-to-batch consistency? Consistency guarantees minimal to negligible variation in different batches. It leads to the generation of experimental data with high reproducibility.
- Are cells characterized properly for their identity, purity, cell count, passage number, and viability?
- Are they documenting the donor profile detailing the age, gender, medical history, etc.?
- Has the product been tested for contamination?
Authorities have established specific guidelines to avoid any compromise in the product quality and issue the relevant certifications to the companies that follow them.
Kosheeka’s Biomedical Research
Kosheeka is a cell culture research company that provides primary cells. It has built credibility due to the following reasons:
- Kosheeka’s cell biomedical research operates in a BSL-2 research lab comprising world-class infrastructure. Authorities have issued an ISO certificate to its lab, demonstrating the company’s strict adherence to quality standards.
- The company also has a dedicated team of trained personnel and expert scientists for cell isolation, culture, and testing.
- Kosheeka has also received a GMP certificate for following a GMP-compliant process to ensure the consistency and quality of the product.
- Its experts perform extensive characterization for assessment of purity, identity, and viability.
- The team at Kosheeka also performs rigorous testing for contamination by mycoplasma, endotoxins, viruses, and bacteria to provide a contamination-free product.
- Kosheeka provides primary cells at the lowest passage with details of the donor characteristics for transparency.
Kosheeka’s Product Catalogue
Kosheeka offers a wide array of primary cells belonging to different tissues and species. Their products also include stem cells and cell lines for enhancing your research. Additionally, the inventory of Kosheeka includes biofluids like plasma and serum as well as subcellular fractions- microsomes, cytosolic fractions, and S9 fractions from various tissues such as the liver, lung, heart, etc.
Services by Kosheeka
Kosheeka also delivers services to empower your research.
- Donor Customization: Kosheeka provides the option to tailor the tissue, species, and even individuals for primary cell isolation to meet your specific research needs.
- Fast Delivery: Kosheeka has a readily available stock of products and ensures their rapid delivery on-demand to avoid delays in your research and expedite your scientific discoveries.
- Expert Guidance: Primary cells are not easy to maintain in culture. Kosheeka’s team has experts who can guide you in handling and culturing for optimal cell growth and proliferation.
Product-Related Queries, Or Partnership Inquiries
Conclusion
Primary cell cultures have been crucial in scientific breakthroughs. It has applications in drug discovery and development. However, primary cell isolation and culture face many setbacks in a research lab. Not only is the procedure time-consuming and adds extra costs to the budget, but it is also complex, causing inconsistencies in the extracted cells during repeated isolation. Therefore, several companies have opened up to provide primary cells. Kosheeka is one such cell culture research company in India that adheres to quality standards, as evidenced by its GMP and ISO certificates. It is a reliable source of primary cells also providing various other products and services.
FAQs
Q: Why are primary cells better than cell lines for research?
Primary cells demonstrate tissue-specific cellular features which are absent in cell lines. Since research on primary cells can provide more physiologically relevant data, therefore they are favored over cell lines in biomedical research.
Q: Why are primary cells better than animal models for a research study?
Research on animal models is a labor-intensive, time-consuming, and costly affair while also bearing ethical considerations. Therefore, primary cells are employed for investigational studies, and animal models are only utilized in the last phases of the study.
Q: How to recognize the right research company for purchasing primary cells?
The research company providing primary cells should have relevant certifications that show their adherence to quality standards. Additionally, the primary cell provider should also conduct high throughput assays to ensure a pure population of contamination-free cells with high viability. The company should also provide details of the donor from where the cells have been isolated.
Q: Is Kosheeka the right research lab to procure primary cells?
Kosheeka provides primary cells along with several other products. It has a GMP certificate and an ISO-certified BSL-2 laboratory that demonstrate its commitment to quality. Their team also run extensive tests to offer a pure population of primary cells without contamination and specify the donor characteristics. The experts at Kosheeka also guide you in cell culture practices that can result in optimal cell growth. Moreover, they also tailor the donor profile according to your research needs to enhance your scientific pursuit.
