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Updated: Aug 2, 2025
Whole-cell MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry is an Accurate and Rapid Method to Analyze Different Modes of Macrophage Activation
Published on: December 26, 2013
Early detection and metabolic pathway identification of T cell activation by in-process intracellular mass
Austin L Culberson1, Annie C Bowles-Welch2, Bryan Wang3
1The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center (ERC) for Cell Manufacturing Technologies (CMaT), Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Background Aims:
In-process monitoring and control of biomanufacturing workflows remains a significant challenge in the development, production, and application of cell therapies. New process analytical technologies must be developed to identify and control the critical process parameters that govern ex vivo cell growth and differentiation to ensure consistent and predictable safety, efficacy, and potency of clinical products.
Methods:
This study demonstrates a new platform for at-line intracellular analysis of T-cells. Untargeted mass spectrometry analyses via the platform are correlated to conventional methods of T-cell assessment.
Results:
Spectral markers and metabolic pathways correlated with T-cell activation and differentiation are detected at early time points via rapid, label-free metabolic measurements from a minimal number of cells as enabled by the platform. This is achieved while reducing the analytical time and resources as compared to conventional methods of T-cell assessment.
Conclusions:
In addition to opportunities for fundamental insight into the dynamics of T-cell processes, this work highlights the potential of in-process monitoring and dynamic feedback control strategies via metabolic modulation to drive T-cell activation, proliferation, and differentiation throughout biomanufacturing.
