Trince Bio Wins big: Nature Magazine Awards Life-Saving Technology of UGent Spinoff

Winning the Nature Magazine Spinoff Prize is like clinching Olympic gold in Biotech. Trince Bio, a spin-off from Ghent University, captured Nature Magazine’s attention with its innovative cell transfection method. Their technology enables genetic modification of human cells without causing damage to the cell. This breakthrough is a game-changer in cell and gene therapy, offering hope in the fight against cancer and genetic disorders. The Nature Spinoff Prize is an international recognition of Trince’s innovation and life-saving potential.

Trince (TRansfer INto CElls) is not just making headlines; they’re changing lives. Their pioneering technology allows the delivery of functional molecules into living cells without harming them, setting a new standard in personalized treatment. Previous methods often stretched or damaged cells, reducing their effectiveness. Trince uses photoporation – a gentle method to deliver payloads into cells based on the interaction between pulsed laser light and photothermal nanosensitizers. Something our team in lab devices was able to help out with.

Photopor-what, you say? Here’s the magic: Trince extracts cells from the patient’s blood, and with the use of pulsed laser light and other biological forces, they create small pores in the cellular membrane. Through these small openings, molecules can be entered that change the DNA of the cell – essentially giving the cells superpowers to attack cancer cells or correct genetic errors. All without damaging the cell, ensuring higher quality and effectiveness. After the modification, the enhanced cells are reintroduced into the patient’s bloodstream, ready to do the work!

Trince’s technology stands out for its gentle handling of cells, unlike other methods that often compromise cell quality. And their approach not only enhances the cell quality and effectiveness, it also simplifies the process, and significantly reduces costs. Talk about impact!

Ambitions for the future

With the help of a high-tech lab device, they are optimizing the technology – preparing for the next step. Looking ahead, they aim to develop a device that can fully automate cell treatment, reducing costs and speeding up production. Accelerated production also means that patients can be treated faster, allowing us to save many lives.

Nature Magazine Spinoff Prize

Trince’s technology has the potential to save millions of lives. They are currently focused on three key applications: genetic modification of immune cells for cancer therapy, genetic modification of stem cells, and live cell imaging.

The Nature Spinoff Prize celebrates companies that turn academic research into impactful products and services. From a pool of 150 companies, Trince emerged as a winner, a true testament to its groundbreaking work and its promise to positively impact society.

Congrats to the entire Trince Bio team and our colleagues who supported the development of the lab device. Let’s make an impact together, pioneering for a healthier future.