Our ongoing research
Development of innovative platforms for CAR-T cell production
Through the optimisation of GMP processes, the implementation of preventive cryopreservation strategies for biological material, and the development of protocols able to reduce the time, cost and complexity of producing personalised cell therapies.
Research and development of therapies based on adipose tissue-derived stem cells and their biological derivatives
Including Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF), adipose stromal/stem cells (ASCs), secretome and extracellular vesicles (EVs), with applications in regenerative medicine, pain therapy, orthopaedics, aesthetic medicine and translational medicine.
Valorisation of cord tissues and their derivatives
Through the development of advanced regenerative medicine products, such as biological membranes, extracellular matrices, freeze-dried formulations, hydrogels and other biomaterials intended for tissue repair and regeneration.
Development of new protocols and technologies for regenerative medicine
Aimed at introducing innovative therapeutic approaches, standardising production processes, biologically characterising cell products, and accelerating the technology transfer from preclinical research to clinical practice.
Design and validation of innovative medical devices and process technologies
Dedicated to the isolation, processing, handling and cryopreservation of cells and tissues in a GMP environment, with the aim of increasing the safety, reproducibility, automation and regulatory compliance of production processes.
The SSCF Research Biobank
The SSCF Research Biobank was established to enable pre-clinical research and development of methodologies and technologies for the isolation, characterisation and large-scale production of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells from adipose tissue.
The biobank collects samples and data and stores them for further use in research projects that are already defined or yet to be determined.
The samples and data collected may also make it possible to develop new human cell therapies based on mesenchymal stromal cells, within a personalised medicine approach. The biobank's activities are authorised by the ethics committee (Canton of Ticino; Ref. CE 2961) and comply with the Federal Act of 30 September 2011 on Research involving Human Beings (Human Research Act, HRA), which entered into force on 1 January 2014. SSCF Research Biobank is committed to complying with all applicable laws and ethical principles.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Personalised direct consulting for companies
The biobank collects samples and data and stores them for further use in research projects that are already defined or yet to be determined.
Stem cells can be totipotent, meaning capable of giving rise to all the tissues of an organism, as is the case with embryonic stem cells, or they can be multi- (or pluri-) potent, capable of giving rise to certain types of cells or tissues (adult stem cells).
Stem cells are classified into two categories
Embryonic stem cells (ES Cells)
Totipotent cells found in the embryo, capable of giving rise to a complete organism starting from a single cell. Their use is still at the centre of ethical debate today.
Adult stem cells (AS Cells)
These cells have a particular plasticity, which allows them to differentiate into many cell types. They offer interesting prospects in the therapeutic field.
Among adult stem cells, those found in adipose tissue, classified as mesenchymal stem cells, attract particular attention from researchers, as they are pluripotent cells capable of differentiating into various types of cells and/or tissues. Furthermore, precisely because they are adult stem cells and not classified as “embryonic cells”, adipose tissue cells do not raise ethical concerns.
Mesenchymal stem cells
Adipose tissue has recently attracted considerable interest as an alternative source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), particularly compared to bone marrow.
The mononuclear portion of adipose tissue is called the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) and contains many cell types, including adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs), endothelial precursor cells, pericytes, as well as, naturally, adipocytes and other blood cells, as can be seen in the figure below.
Adipose tissue cells meet all these criteria. We should also consider that, with the increase in obesity in modern society, subcutaneous adipose tissue has become abundant and easily accessible. To obtain adipose tissue, the liposuction technique is a less invasive procedure than bone marrow aspiration.
In general, it can be said that this technique causes less discomfort for the patient and does not represent a pathological condition. Small quantities of adipose tissue (from 100 to 200 ml) can easily be obtained under simple local anaesthesia.
Furthermore, just one gram of this tissue contains approximately 5,000 stem cells, known as ASCs (Adipose-derived Stem Cells), around 100 times more abundant than those obtained from the same volume of bone marrow. For these reasons, adipose tissue can be considered a rich source of mesenchymal stem cells.
Therapeutic applications of mesenchymal stem cells
The speed at which stem cell research is progressing makes the boundary between what is already a therapeutic reality and opportunity today, and what will very likely become one in the very near future, extremely fluid.
The hope of biomedical research, however, lies in the use of stem cells as a tool for regenerating many tissues or organs. To date, numerous clinical studies have given good grounds for hope regarding the application of stem cells in the treatment of many conditions.
We can say that the coming years will allow for a better understanding of the biology of mesenchymal stem cells and their therapeutic action, to the point of transforming cell therapy into a new clinical paradigm, enabling better outcomes for many conditions that are still incurable today.
