Newcells Biotech Limited services

In vitro assessment of Fibroblast-to-Myofibroblast transition (FMT). Newcells offers a fast and reliable FMT assay service to evaluate the efficacy of anti-fibrotic compounds using high-content imaging. This customisable, high-throughput assay is well suited to compound screening for small molecules targeting lung fibrosis. Normal repair processes are defective in the fibrotic lung. Repetitive cellular microinjuries and a heightened immune response leads to chronic activation of fibroblasts. Activated fibroblasts differentiate into myofibroblasts, a process known as fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition (FMT). This persistent myofibroblast phenotype leads to an increased synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins, and their deposition within the lung parenchyma, causing progressive scarring, increased lung stiffness and a loss in lung function. 

Investigate renal drug transport modalities and drug interactions in vitro. aProximate™ PTCs retain high expression of the relevant transporters involved in drug handling including megalin and cubilin; so are ideal for drug transporter and drug interaction studies of both small and large molecules. Transporters play a major role in the uptake and efflux of drugs across cellular membranes. Drug interactions with transporter proteins are common and can act either as substrates and/or inhibitors, a role which is best be identified during the early-stages of drug development to define the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) profile. Using our scientific expertise, Newcells provides transporter assays using the aProximate™ model to support your specific requirements and understand potential drug interactions.

Cross-species comparison of drug handling with near-physiological kidney transporter model. New drug molecules are usually tested in vivo in two preclinical species to gain a more detailed understanding of how they are transported and eliminated through the kidney and also to mitigate risk of renal toxicity in humans. However, these animal models are not always predictive of human responses. To address this problem, robust, comparative in vitro kidney transporter models, such as aProximate™, are powerful tools to compare different species and are much needed to improve in vitro-in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE).

Accelerated in vitro evaluation of retinal toxicity. Newcells offers a fast and reliable retinal drug toxicity in vitro testing service using complex models developed in house: retinal organoids and RPE. The retinal toxicity service evaluates how new compounds affect cell viability, following photoreceptor degeneration or loss of RPE barrier function including outer segment photoreceptor phagocytosis. We also offer the comparison of several time points during differentiation. Our retinal toxicity service is fast, giving our clients insights into the ocular toxicity profile of their compounds and allowing them to evaluate possible rescue strategies.

In vitro retinal disease modelling for retinal therapy. Newcells offers a fast and reliable in vitro safety and efficacy service for the evaluation of novel compounds for retinal therapy using complex human retinal organoid or RPE models developed in house. Both models are iPSC derived allowing gene-edited lines to be engineered using CRISPR/Cas9 for direct comparison between WT and mutant phenotypes after differentiation. Targeted mutations can model retinopathies, more specifically monogenic inherited retinopathies such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP), Stargardt disease, Usher’s syndrome and Leber congenital amaurosis.