Topography-mediated pH-responsive chitosan blends for scalable continuous cell production: A platform for next-generation cell therapy manufacturing
Journal
Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications
Journal Volume
14
Start Page
101134
ISSN
26668939
Date Issued
2026-06
Author(s)
Yen, Chia-Hsiang
Chen, Yin-Tzu
Shih, Chiao-Chi
Hsieh, Hao-Ying
Wu, Ying-Syuan
Chen, Ying-Ju
Abstract
With an exponential advancement in the cell therapy industry, stimuli-responsive cell expansion systems have been springing up as an alternative to the conventional batch-type cultures. However, the development of pH-responsive platforms remains significantly underrepresented in this field. This study aims to investigate the application of chitosan-based polymeric blends for pH-driven continuous cell production. Our findings reveal that nylon-6,6/chitosan (NL/CS) blends, characterized by a unique condensed pebble-paving micro-architecture, significantly outperform other sample blends in cell recovery rates, re-expansion efficiency, and overall processing time. The NL/CS surface maintains a highly uniform, isotropic profile with height amplitudes below 100 nm, featuring tightly-packed heterogeneous domains that allow cells to effectively bridge growth-favoring regions. The unique micro-architecture supports robust mechanical sensing and facilitates a seamless transition between cell expansion and detachment cycles. Collectively, this work establishes a design principle based on surface topography and phase distribution for controlling cell fate in dynamic culture systems, offering a scalable platform for cell therapy manufacturing.
Subjects
Chitosan-based polymeric blend
Continuous cell production
Nylon-6
6/Chitosan
pH-responsive substrate
Surface topography
Publisher
Elsevier Ltd
Type
journal article