The production of lab-grown skin in a fully-closed system based on single use disposables was a big milestone, proving that CUTISS’s vision can become reality. This closed system can increase safety for both operators and patients and optimise the manufacturing facility space and maintenance whilst reducing costs. CUTISS and Zühlke are continuing their collaboration to scale-up denovoSkin™’s manufacturing process. This should provide new hope for patients requiring large amount of skin. Personalised artificial skin for burn victims Zühlke supports Cutiss on its way to market maturity. Automation – a major challenge Today’s standard of care in skin surgery is split-thickness skin autografting. A thin layer of skin is harvested from a patient’s own donor site and applied on the wounds. Donor site shortage is an unmet need in large wounds and split-thickness skin autografting often results in permanent, highly debilitating scars. The Swiss Life sciences start-up, CUTISS, wanted to revolutionise skin surgery by using personalised, bio-engineered skin that could improve patient’s quality of life by reducing scarring. CUTISS developed a process in which a personalised bilayer skin graft can be bio-engineered in the laboratory in large quantity starting from a postage stamp-sized skin sample. CUTISS developed a first-in-class automated process that collects keratinocytes and fibroblasts, expands them, and then uses them to create a skin tissue graft. Currently, the biotechnological manufacturing process is carried out manually. Automating the process is a key step for the life sciences start-up. That’s why CUTISS and Zühlke started a collaboration in 2018. ' To scale up, we needed a solid and local partner. The collaboration with Zühlke marked the kick-off of our pioneering automation programme. ' Daniela Marino CEO The first PoC Using agile methods and working in interdisciplinary teams, we analysed a range of factors and worked with CUTISS to develop a concept for a complete automated production process. With CUTISS, we developed a functioning prototype for the first step of the manufacturing e.g. cell isolation. The prototype included a sterilised disposable set comprising tubing and bags. The proof of concept demonstrated that it is indeed possible to isolate single cells from a skin biopsy automatically and in a fully closed fashion – an important milestone for CUTISS. Following an extensive test phase, we started working on developing the next generation cell isolation system. The system also included a new disposable set with a smart sample loading aid for which CUTISS and Zühlke were awarded the Swiss Plastics Expo 2023 Award for Engineering. ' The collaboration with Zühlke has provided us with the engineering expertise that CUTISS needed to pursue tissue therapy innovation. ' Vincent Ronfard CIO Optimising the manufacturing space and reducing costs A key feature of lab-grown skin production automation is the fully closed system based on single use disposables. A closed system can increase safety for both patients and operators and optimise the manufacturing footprint and maintenance whilst reducing costs. Today, Zühlke and CUTISS are continuing their collaboration. Our work Banking, Commerce and Consumer Goods Zühlke's GenAI Project Finder boosts presales efficiency Learn more Medical Device and Healthcare Berlinger pioneers smarter medication shipments with IoT Learn more Medical Device and Healthcare Better UX, compliance and cybersecurity for Akina Learn more Go to case studies Deliver transformative impact with Zühlke. Speak to our team today. Get in touch
' To scale up, we needed a solid and local partner. The collaboration with Zühlke marked the kick-off of our pioneering automation programme. ' Daniela Marino CEO
' The collaboration with Zühlke has provided us with the engineering expertise that CUTISS needed to pursue tissue therapy innovation. ' Vincent Ronfard CIO