Dermal Sheath Cells (DSc) show promising potential in regenerative medicine for their role in hair follicle regeneration and wound healing. However, their clinical use is hindered by challenges in scalable production. Microcarrier-based culture systems offer a solution, with microcarrier type and culture conditions crucial for optimizing cell yield, viability, and function.
In this project, our goals are twofold: firstly, transitioning from serum-based to serum-free media to enhance consistency, reduce costs, and eliminate contamination risks from animal-derived components. Secondly, using edible microcarriers made from plant-based resources to enable large-scale cultivation of DSc.
This internship will allow the intern (currently a visiting PhD student at the University of Victoria) to enhance their skills in:
– Advanced cell culture techniques, including microcarrier-based systems and serum-free media formulations.