Revolutionizing Cell Line Development With the NanoCellect WOLF G2 Cell Sorter

Blog | April 4, 2023

The field of cell line development has been evolving rapidly, with innovative technologies continuously pushing the boundaries of what is possible. One such groundbreaking technology is the NanoCellect WOLF G2 Cell Sorter. In this blog post, we will discuss how the WOLF G2 is transforming cell line development by offering a gentle, user-friendly, and efficient solution for cell sorting.

What is Cell Line Development?

Cell line development is the process of generating a stable, genetically homogeneous population of cells, derived from a single cell, that can be used for various applications, such as research, drug discovery, and biomanufacturing of monoclonal antibodies or other therapeutic proteins. This process typically involves isolating individual cells with desired traits, expanding their population, and ensuring genetic stability over time.

Figure 1: Depiction of a cell line development workflow

The Cell Line Development Process

Selection of Parental Cells: The first step in cell line development is the selection of a suitable parental cell line, which can be primary cells, immortalized cell lines, or stem cells. The choice of the parental cell line depends on the desired application and the specific requirements of the project.
Genetic Modification: If necessary, the parental cells are genetically modified to express a protein of interest, such as a reporter gene or a therapeutic protein. This can be achieved through various methods, including transfection or viral transduction.
Single-Cell Isolation: Next, single cells with the desired traits are isolated using techniques such as limiting dilution, colony picking, or cell sorting. The goal is to obtain a single cell that will give rise to a genetically homogeneous population.
Expansion and Screening: The isolated single cells are then cultured and allowed to expand. During this phase, the cells are regularly screened for their desired traits, such as protein expression or specific cell surface markers.
Stability Testing: Once a cell line has been established and expanded, it must undergo stability testing to ensure that the desired traits are maintained over several generations. This step is crucial for ensuring the quality and consistency of the cell line.
Cryopreservation and Storage: Finally, the established cell lines are cryopreserved and stored in liquid nitrogen to maintain their genetic stability and viability for future use.

Applications of Cell Lines

Cell lines are indispensable tools in various fields of biomedical research and therapeutic development. Some of their key applications include:

Drug Discovery and Development: Cell lines are used in high-throughput screening assays to identify potential drug candidates, test their efficacy, and evaluate their toxicity profiles.
Biomanufacturing: Cell lines are utilized in the large-scale production of therapeutic proteins, such as monoclonal antibodies, growth factors, and hormones.
Gene Therapy: Genetically modified cell lines can be used as vehicles for delivering therapeutic genes to target tissues, offering potential treatment options for genetic disorders and certain cancers.
Disease Modeling: Cell lines can be engineered to express specific disease-related mutations, enabling researchers to study the underlying molecular mechanisms and develop targeted therapies.
Regenerative Medicine: Stem cell lines can be differentiated into various cell types to study their potential for tissue repair and regeneration in the context of injury or disease.

NanoCellect WOLF G2 Cell Sorter: A Game-Changer in Cell Sorting

The NanoCellect WOLF G2 Cell Sorter offers a unique approach to cell sorting that addresses many of the challenges faced with traditional methods of cell line development. Here are some key features of the WOLF G2:

Gentle Cell Sorting: The WOLF G2 employs a microfluidic approach, which uses low-pressure systems to sort cells with minimal stress. This gentle sorting process preserves cell viability and ensures that delicate cells, such as stem cells and primary cells, remain intact during sorting.
User-Friendly Design: The compact benchtop design of the WOLF G2 makes it accessible to a wide range of users, from small academic labs to large biopharmaceutical companies. Its intuitive software and touch-screen interface streamline the sorting process.
High Purity and Recovery Rates: The WOLF G2 offers high purity and recovery rates, which are essential for generating stable cell lines. This is achieved through its precise microfluidic sorting system, which separates cells based on their fluorescence and light scatter properties. As a result, the WOLF G2 can isolate target cells with high efficiency and accuracy.
Single Cell Dispensing: When combined with the N1 Single-Cell Dispenser, the WOLF G2 enables plating of single cells into 96- or 364-well plates with high efficiency and low rates of two or more cells per well. This speeds up the process of selecting for parental cells of interest and ensuring monoclonality of the final cell line.
Reduced Contamination Risk: The WOLF G2 uses disposable cartridges, eliminating cross-contamination between samples and minimizing the need for extensive cleaning procedures. This feature simplifies the overall process and reduces the time spent on maintenance.
Accelerated Cell Line Development: By combining gentle cell sorting with high purity and recovery rates, the WOLF G2 accelerates the process of cell line development. This allows researchers to generate stable, genetically homogeneous cell lines more quickly and efficiently than with traditional methods like limiting dilution.

Applications of the WOLF G2 in Cell Line Development

The versatility of the NanoCellect WOLF G2 Cell Sorter makes it suitable for a wide range of applications in cell line development, including:

Monoclonal Antibody Production: The WOLF G2 enables the rapid isolation of high-quality hybridoma cells for monoclonal antibody production, increasing the likelihood of identifying lead candidates in drug discovery programs.
CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing: By efficiently sorting edited cells, the WOLF G2 can be used to streamline the process of creating knockout or knock-in cell lines, facilitating gene function studies and the development of gene therapies.
iPSC and Stem Cell Research: The gentle sorting capabilities of the WOLF G2 make it ideal for working with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and other delicate primary cells, ensuring high cell viability and enabling the creation of disease models and regenerative medicine applications.
Cell-based Assays: The WOLF G2 can isolate specific cell populations for use in functional assays, such as cytotoxicity, migration, and invasion studies, contributing to a better understanding of cellular mechanisms and drug response profiles.

The cell line development process is a critical step in advancing our understanding of human biology, disease mechanisms, and the development of innovative therapeutics. By generating stable and high-quality cell lines, researchers can establish robust and reproducible models for various applications, from drug discovery and biomanufacturing to gene therapy and regenerative medicine. As the field of cell line development continues to evolve, innovative technologies and methods will further enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of this essential process.

The NanoCellect WOLF G2 Cell Sorter revolutionizes cell line development with its gentle, user-friendly, and efficient approach to cell sorting. Leveraging advanced microfluidic technology, it achieves exceptional purity and recovery rates while minimizing the risk of contamination. This innovation accelerates the cell line development process, empowering researchers across various fields. From drug discovery and gene editing to stem cell research and cell-based assays, the WOLF G2’s versatility makes it an indispensable tool. Moreover, researchers can explore new frontiers in cell isolation techniques pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery and therapeutic development. Stay updated on the latest advancements in cell line development by watching our insightful webinar. If you have any inquiries about the WOLF G2 or N1 single-cell dispenser, our team is available to assist you through the website’s chat function or via email at info@nanocellect.com. Join us in unlocking the potential of cell line development with NanoCellect’s cutting-edge technologies.

microfluidic cell sorting