Life Technologies and DNAVEC CytoTune-iPS 2.0 Sendai Reprogramming Kit

Life Technologies and DNAVEC have launched the CytoTune-iPS 2.0 Sendai Reprogramming Kit which enables an efficient method to develop induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from human somatic cells. The kit doubles the number of colonies that can be produced.

The kit uses a benign RNA virus developed by DNAVEC to deliver the reprogramming factors and clears out of the cell after about five replication cycles. The technology helps overcome major hurdles associated with traditional reprogramming techniques, which are inefficient and can lead to unwanted genetic mutations since vectors must insert themselves in the host cell’s DNA to deliver their payload.

Efficient development of iPS cells provides advantages for the basic and translational research fields. Scientists who test existing or novel drugs in the hopes of treating specific conditions can have faster access to patient-derived, physiologically accurate cells for disease modelling studies.