3D Medical Polymers for Cell Culture Technologies

Dr. George Burke and colleagues at NIBEC, Ulster University have developed a technology that allows a range of synthetic medical polymers to be electrospun and cold plasma functionalised to form 3D scaffolds for a variety of life technology applications (stem cell culture, in vitro toxicology testing, tissue engineering applications). The technology has previously been the beneficiary of Invest NI Proof of Concept funding (PoC-319, 2014) which has allowed the technology to be demonstrated to be applicable to a number of uses through in vitro experimentation. Dr Burke has employed a commercial vehicle, RegenaGraft, to define the most appropriate application and route to market for this technology. In seeking to apply the technology to the most appropriate and commercially relevant application, Dr Burke and colleagues have investigated several different options. These include electrospun cold plasma treated scaffolds plated into multi-well plates for drug discovery, the Advanced Cytotoxicity Assay Matrix (ACAM) product. Through RegenaGraft’s participation in the Lean Launch Pad exercise organised jointly by UU and QUB, a business model canvas was employed to rationalise the approach to commercialisation of the RegenaGraft technology. Through this process, several potential customers were interviewed including Almac, Randox, Sigma-Aldrich and Boston Scientific. Intelligence gathered through this process brought the RegenaGraft team to the conclusion that the time, expense and regulatory burden involved in the development and production of electrospun scaffolds for prosthetic or regenerative organs made this application prohibitive, at least in the short to medium term. Current focus has therefore shifted to exploring the application of RegenaGraft’s technology to the provision of multi-well plated 3D scaffolds and the ACAM product for the burgeoning tissue culture market. Dr Burke, Dr Porter and Mr Liam McLarnon have both completed the Lean Launch Programme in 2017 and are currently participating within Cohort E of the North by Northwest iCURe programme in 2020. As such they have completed considerable background research, market discovery, and developed an initial sales strategy. These programmes have provided them with access to business mentors, advisors, and training on funding/investment, business planning, sales and marketing, and generation of quality business pitches. •In 2015, Dr Burke and Porter participated in the Lean Start Up Programme in collaboration with Imperial College London and SynbiCITE, UK, an evidenced based entrepreneurship programme designed to educate academics in Business Model Canvas generation •Dr Burke participated in Ulster / QUB Lean Launch Pad programme, 2017 •In 2020, RegenaGraft is currently participating in the iCURe program (Mr Liam McLarnon lead ECR), and advanced to second stage funding.