Production of bioactives using in vitro culture of cells from organs sourced from the meat processing industry - Phase II

Summary

The production of bioactives using in vitro culture of cells from organs sourced from the meat processing industry provides a unique value-adding process. The first phase of this project achieved its aim to provide a proof-of-concept for a new technology that could amplify the production of target bioactive compounds from cells isolated from animal organs.

The second phase of the project focused on identification of marketable target bioactives with a quick route to market for the commercialisation of this technology. Disaggregated primary cells and minced organ culture were examined for their ability to produce bioactives through an investigation of amplification signals and scale-up in a bioreactor system.

Key findings

Alkaline Phosphatase (AP) was identified as a champion product from an initial business case that was developed using data obtained in the laboratory-scale experiments. However, the identification of a new recombinant AP competitor manufactured in bacteria resulted in the business case for the production of AP using minced organ culture being non-viable.

A proteomics approach was used to identify new bioactive targets produced during the minced organ culture process. It is recommended that this project directs its focus on these newly identified bioactive targets as a quick route to market for commercialisation of this technology.

The detailed technical and cost benefit analysis concluded that the technology was neither commercially or technically viable, and further investment was terminated by MLA.

Benefits to industry

The diversification of this technology to alternative organs would give a greater range of bioactive targets, therefore we recommend applying the successful proteomics approach to the identification of new bioactives to alternative organs such as the heart, spleen and pancreas.