CI-SCREEN
Functional Immortalized Cells
Expandable cells from any species and any tissue with the function you need.
Looking for unlimited supply of cell material?
We generate cells with unlimited expansion capacity using our unique immortalisation technology. Learn more
Require cells with a specific phenotype?
We offer to screen the expandable cell lines for the phenotype you require.
Learn more
Working with a non-standard model system?
Our unbiased and species-independent immortalisation technology enables generation of cell lines from virtually any species. Learn more
Core technology
The published CI-SCREEN technology builds upon our unique optimised gene library of 33 genes. It includes genes associated with key cellular functions, such as apoptosis, cell cycle control and stemness.
The CI-SCREEN library is lentivirally delivered into the primary cell material resulting in immortalised cell lines with unlimited proliferation capacity. These cells enable running your assay 109 times (based on 106 cells/96 well plate) compared to once for primary cells.
Screening for expansion capacity
After transduction with the CI-SCREEN library, all generated cell lines are screened for expansion capacity. This simple but effective assay automatically selects cells carrying an advantageous gene combination that confers immortalisation.
Our technology generates robustly proliferating cell lines within 60-90 days. The generated cell lines may have integrated different gene combinations and thus might display varying phenotypes.
Phenotypic characterisation
Immortalised cell lines are characterised according to your requirements. Characterisation may include mRNA expression, protein expression or functional assays.
We identify your ideal cell line with the ideal gene combination. This combination supports both, expansion and function.
Source material
Thanks to the large and unbiased gene library, the CI-SCREEN technology is species- and tissue independent. So far, 20 cell types from 8 species have been immortalised using the CI-SCREEN technology. We recommend a starting cell number of at least 105 cells but will find a way to immortalise even smaller cell numbers if necessary.
Starting material is sourced by you or we will take care of it. If primary cells are not directly available, we will establish an isolation protocol for your cells of interest. Alternatively, primary cells may be sourced from a supplier.
Cell type specific expansion cocktails
The CI-SCREEN technology identifies cell type-specific expansion cocktails.
The complete CI-SCREEN library is transduced into primary cells of your choice (A).
Screening a high number of immortalised cell lines for common expansion genes, identifies an expansion cocktail. We have found this expansion cocktail to be highly cell type specific.
For example, expansion cocktails that immortalise lung epithelial cells differ from those that expand endothelial cells (see our recent publication for more details).
In the next step (B), the cell type-specific expansion cocktail is used to immortalise the fresh primary cells.
This second immortalisation is extremely robust, efficient and fast. It results in cell lines with a reproducible phenotype and facilitates the establishment of personalised cell lines.
Personalised cell lines
The CI-SCREEN technology enables generation of personalised and disease-specific cell lines.
Cell type-specific expansion protocols are used to efficiently generate CI-SCREEN cell lines from multiple donors, for example personalised lung epithelial cells.