Pep Talk - August 2024 Edition

ISSCR 2024, Hamburg

Our theme this year was stress-free stem cell culture. We discussed priorities for the stem cell science supply chain with in-depth conversations about the impact of growth factors and cytokines quality on reproducibility and how to integrate new technologies, such as controlled-release and thermostable proteins, to improve the scalability of expansion and differentiation protocols.

We gathered data at the conference on what impacts successful experimental outcomes and this will inform our R&D and we will continue to push to improve the quality of recombinant proteins and champion supplier accountability for our impact on your work.  

View our full survey data and find out more about how we learn through collaboration.

NEWS

Qkine recertified to ISO 9001:2015

Qkine are pleased to announce that we have successfully been recertified with the international standard ISO 9001:2015 in a recent audit. This standard shows our dedication to providing quality products, customer service, and technical support to our customers. 

In 2021, Qkine committed to implementing an ISO 9001:2015 compliant quality management system encompassing its entire R&D, manufacturing, and operations functions. Embedding this internationally recognized standard demonstrated a commitment to consistently meet and exceed customer expectations and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. UKAS accredited BSI, respected globally, was selected to certify the quality management system giving enhanced confidence in the assessment of best practice.

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Qkine and StemCultures merge their expertise to create controlled-release technologies for stem cell culture

Qkine have entered into an exciting a new partnership with StemCultures, LLC. , a life sciences company dedicated to developing innovative reagents that enhance the quality and efficiency of cell growth and differentiation in culture. This collaboration merges our expertise in complex protein manufacturing and engineering with proprietary controlled-release technologies by StemCultures to develop new reagents for precision stem cell expansion and differentiation.

We are excited to announce the launch of our first co-developed products this summer. These advancements build on the comprehensive suite of tools already developed by our companies to tackle the challenges associated with the rapid degradation of essential media components, such as growth factors and cytokines, during stem cell culture.

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NEW PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT

High quality food grade recombinant bovine PDGF-BB

PDGF-BB is used in optimized serum-free culture media for bovine cell types and is a critical growth factor for several cultivated meat and fat bioproduction processes. PDGF-BB promotes rapid and efficient cell division to maintain high cell proliferation rates in bioreactors, encourage maturation of bovine myoblasts into myotubes and stimulate the production of extracellular matrix components. At Qkine, we proactively support the cellular agriculture community to transition from using human growth factors to appropriate animal species proteins to support the path to regulatory approval and, in the long-term, positively impact global sustainability and cell-based biomanufacturing innovation.

View Qkine PDGF-BB >

APPLICATION NOTE

Differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into dopaminergic neurons

This application note describes how to maintain, grow, and test the pluripotency of iPSCs cultured on Qkine vitronectin coated plates and using E8-like media containing Qkine thermostable FGF2-G3 and TGF-β1 PLUS growth factors.

View application note >

Products used

• Recombinant human / mouse FGF-8a protein (Qk059) is often used for the differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells, embryonic stem cells, and neural stem cells. Qkine FGF-8a is animal-origin free (AOF), carrier protein-free, tag-free, and non-glycosylated to ensure a pure homogenous protein with exceptional lot-to-lot consistency.

View Qkine FGF-8a >

• Recombinant human BDNF protein (Qk050) is used to maintain neurons and differentiate and mature human pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitors to cortical and motor neurons and cortical organoids.

View Qkine BDNF >

• Recombinant human GDNF protein (Qk051) is suitable for the culture of reproducible and high-quality cortical and motor neurons and cortical organoids. Qkine GDNF is animal origin-free (AOF), carrier protein-free, and tag-free to ensure its purity with exceptional lot-to-lot consistency.  

View Qkine GDNF >

• Recombinant human TGF-β3 protein (Qk054) is a member of the TGF-β family, a family involved in regulating cell survival, proliferation and differentiation. TGF-β3 is used in human pluripotent stem cell maintenance media.

View Qkine TGF-β3 >

INTERLEUKIN FAMILY SPOTLIGHT

• Human IL-3 (Qk090) stimulates differentiation and maturation of human iPSC towards myeloid progenitors. Qkine IL-3 is animal origin-free, carrier protein-free and tag-free to ensure high and consistent bioactivity.

View Qkine IL-3 >

View IL-3 technote >

• Human IL-6 (Qk093) is used for the culture of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and other relevant cells. Qkine IL-6 is animal origin-free, carrier protein-free and tag-free to ensure high and consistent bioactivity. 

View Qkine IL-6 >

View IL-6 technote >

• Recombinant human CNTF protein (Qk063)
• Recombinant human IL-1 beta protein (Qk101)
• Recombinant human IL-4 protein (Qk092)
• Recombinant human LIF protein (Qk036)
• Recombinant human Oncostatin M (OSM) protein (Qk049)

NEW TEAM MEMBERS

This month we have welcomed Paul Grafham as CFO and Rob Nixon has returned as Commercial Director.

More on the Qkine leadership team >

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Cambridge Tech Week | September 10, 2024 | Cambridge, UK
• CMS24 | September 12-13, 2024 | Silicon Valley, California
• In vitro cell culture models: Moving towards animal free | September 17, 2024 | Manchester, UK
• CARMA Conference 2024 | September 17, 2024 | Bath, UK
• Europe Supplier Diversity and Inclusion Conference 2024 | September 23-25, 2024 | Paris, France

Learn more about upcoming events >

WHATS NEXT?

Qkine are committed to producing the most high quality and bioactive growth factors and cytokines, coming soon to our range are the potent cytokines INF-gamma and IL-18 and NGF to add to our wide range of neural growth factors.

View coming soon >

For more information, please visit qkine.com or contact our team at customerservice@qkine.com