Bioreactor Suspence

SUSPENCE – suspension cell culture without moving parts

Cellex is a Rome-based innovative SME that designs and manufactures patented bioreactors for cell culture and tissue engineering. SUSPENCE (patent WO2020/095143A1) is our bioreactor for expanding cells in suspension. It keeps cells in suspension through a controlled laminar flow regime, with no impeller, no stirring and no rotating parts.

Why it matters
Stirred tanks, impellers and rocking platforms all apply mechanical stress to cells and aggregates. For sensitive cell types, that stress is not just an operating detail: it can affect cell integrity, aggregate structure and the quality of the final cell product. SUSPENCE is built on a different principle. With no moving parts in contact with the culture, cells stay suspended under low and controlled shear.

Key features

• No impeller, no rotating parts: shock-free suspension culture

• Controlled laminar fluid dynamics for gentle mixing and homogeneous conditions

• Simple design with few components, easy to set up and run

• Reusable (autoclavable) configuration, well suited to academic and process-development labs

• Can be sized to order, backed by fluid-dynamic characterisation

Target applications

• Expansion of shear-sensitive cells in suspension

• 3D spheroid and aggregate culture, including cancer spheroids for oncology research

• Production of cell-derived products such as extracellular vesicles, where mechanical stress on producer cells matters

• Cellular agriculture and other non-clinical bioprocessing applications

Scientific background
SUSPENCE was developed by an engineering team with a long publication record in bioreactor design, oxygen transport and flow uniformity. The system's biocompatibility was presented in "Biocompatibility study of an innovative Suspence system for cell culture in suspension by evaluating cell viability and growth" (ESB 2022 conference).

Ongoing validation
We are running a structured validation programme with academic partners across several cell types and applications. We are actively looking for groups who want to join as co-investigators.

Our track record in European research
Cellex is a partner in several EU-funded projects: OSTEONET, REGENERATION, 3D-CREATOR, BLUES (marine invertebrate cell cultures) and GALATEA (bioreactors for human milk research).

What we are looking for at Meet in Italy for Life Sciences

• Academic labs and research hospitals working with shear-sensitive cells, spheroids or extracellular vesicles, interested in joint validation studies

• Partners for Horizon Europe and national grant applications in bioprocessing, cell therapy research and cellular agriculture

• Companies in cellular agriculture and biotech looking for gentle suspension-culture solutions

• Distributors and commercial partners for life-science lab equipment

We are based in Rome and happy to meet in person during the event, or to arrange a follow-up visit or demo.