Pep talk - August 2025
Qkine continues to form collaborations and support cellular agriculture
Cellular agriculture has the potential to transform food production and positively impact future food security and sustainability. Immediate priorities for cultivated meat and dairy process development include optimizing serum-free cell culture media in parallel with cell-line development to maximize biomass production in bioreactor conditions. Developing scalable media ingredient supply chains and infrastructure investment is also critical for this sector’s success.
High purity animal-type growth factors from agriculturally relevant species
Qkine have created a range of high quality food grade proteins from agriculturally relevant species is provided with full documentation and traceability. They are designed to meet the needs of customers who are developing dossiers for submission to regulatory authorities or undertaking cellular agriculture R&D focused on cultivated (cell-based) meat, fish, fat and dairy. In this sector, there is an opportunity to maximize the impact and relevance of this R&D by using future-compatible reagents.
Qkine food grade proteins are provided with extensive quality analysis, documentation and the company provides proactive support with novel food dossier preparation. Qkine food grade growth factors are manufactured in the UK under a food manufacturing HACCP regime. Full raw materials traceability, allergen analysis, CoO, CoA, beta-lactam-free and animal origin-free certification are available.
View our food grade products for cellular agriculture
Cultivated meat collaborations
Qkine continue to support cellular agricultures companies and organizations and are looking forward to hearing updates in the upcoming CARMA 2nd annual meeting. You can read more about our relationship with CARMA and blogs from the first CARMA meeting and panel discussion.
Qkine has partnered with several companies with the aim of advancing the sector, for example 3D Bio-Tissues, to complete testing and validation of 3D Bio-Tissues' novel macromolecular crowding technology the aim is to increase growth factor efficiency, improve culture performance and bioprocessing yields and reduce costs for scaling industries such as cellular agriculture. We have also partnered with WildBio, who are harnessing the power of cells from wild game species in South Africa with the goal to produce a quality raw material quickly and at a reduced cost.
Qkine are open to new collaborations, please contact support@qkine.com.
Qkine shipping charge policy – effective 1st September 2025
From 1st September, Qkine will be introducing updated delivery options designed to give you more choice, flexibility and reward ongoing support.
For orders below:
- £1000– delivery cost £25
- 1200 EUR– delivery cost 50 EUR
- $1500 USA + Rest of World– delivery cost $50
These will be shipped via DHL or FedEx standard delivery (depending on your region).
We’re delighted to continue offering free delivery on all orders above the values listed above, as our way of saying thank you for your ongoing support of Qkine.
We’re also excited to introduce a new FedEx International Priority service – flat rate of £175 / 190 EUR / $200 – with guaranteed delivery within 2 working days*
UK Stem Cell Network meeting - 16-17 September 2025
Exciting update on the UKSCN inaugural meeting 16th-17th September 2025 in Manchester, UK.
Platinum co-sponsors Qkine and Stem Cell Technologies will be hosting an evening of networking at the beautiful Manchester Museum in the Fossils and Living Worlds exhibition on the 16th September with drinks, snacks and entertainment!
Don't miss out, Register before the 10th September to secure your place.
The original UK National Stem Cell Network provided a focal point for the community and particularly supported early career stem cell researchers (ECRs) by providing opportunities to network and engage with stakeholders and leaders in the field at events close to home.
UK Stem Cell Network 25 aims to canvass the community and seek a mandate to reform this vital network, reconnecting a community to help retain the UK competitiveness in our field for the benefit of the UK society and economy.
Visit the conference website for more information
Did you miss?
Qkine and 3D Bio-Tissues collaborate to improve cell-care for pluripotent stem cell and cellular agriculture applications
Qkine and 3D Bio-Tissues have partnered to complete testing and validation of 3D Bio-Tissues' novel macromolecular crowding technology. CytoBoostâ„¢ uses biocompatible macromolecules that reproduce the very crowded conditions within in vivo biosystems, thus creating culture environments more amenable to cells. Read our update and collaborative application notes.
Blog: Unexpected consequences: growth factor cross-contamination in mammalian and E. coli expressed growth factors
At Qkine, we have repeatedly highlighted the need for stricter process and quality control in the manufacture of recombinant growth factors to prevent cross-contamination with related growth factors. Contamination with other bioactive proteins leads to a lack of inter- and intra-lab reproducibility or, perhaps most concerningly, incorrect scientific conclusions. Read our blog to learn more.
What's new?
Recombinant human TPO protein (Qk098)
Thrombopoietin (TPO) is a cytokine which stimulates the production and differentiation of megakaryocytes, regulating platelet production. Recombinant TPO can be used to support the self-renewal and maintenance of hematopoietic stem cells.
Qkine TPO is a 16 kDa protein, animal origin-free, tag-free and carrier it has been manufactured to be highly pure and bioactive for reproducible hematopoietic stem cell culture.
Qkine TPO (Qk098) has been manufactured to be highly pure and bioactive and has >17x higher bioactivity than alternative supplier TPO.
New technotes
At Qkine data transparency is our promise. We test all new products against others on the market to ensure each is as bioactive or more, only then will they be approved for sale.
Each new lot is tested to ensure the bioactivity is consistent lot-to-lot, to ensure the most consistent cell cultures and assays. All data is available for all lots, and many are available as technotes.
Why not see if your protein of interest is available (if not ask!)
Technote | IL-15 (Qk097) bioactivity
Qkine IL-15 was as bioactive as IL-15 from an alternative supplier. Recombinant IL-15 activity was determined using Promega IL-15 Bioassay Kit (JA2011). Cells were treated in triplicate with a serial dilution of Qkine IL-15 (Qk097, green) or Peprotech IL-15 (Supplier B, black) for 6 hours. Activity was measured using Bio-Gloâ„¢ Reagent and readings normalized to the maximum response. Data from Qk097 lot #204728.
Technote | FGF-19 (Qk086) bioactivity
Qkine FGF-19 had comparable bioactivity to a alternative supplier protein. Recombinant FGF-19 activity was determined using a FGF-19-responsive firefly luciferase reporter assay. Transfected HEK293T cells were treated in triplicate with a serial dilution of Qkine FGF-19 (Qk086, green) or Peprotech FGF-19 (Supplier B, black) for 3 hours. Firefly activity was measured and normalized to the control Renilla luciferase activity. Data from Qk086 lot #204724.
New Publications
Fetal reversion from diverse lineages sustains the intestinal stem cell pool and confers stress resilience
Kirino S et al, BioRxiv July 2025
Researchers demonstrate the bidirectional interconversion between spatial plasticity, in which differentiated cells revert to crypt base columnar cells, and fetal reversion into revival stem cells, clarifying the underlying the robust regenerative capacity of the intestinal epithelium.
Used Qkine R-spondin 1 (Qk006)
Comprehensive analysis of extracellular matrix remodelling via cyclophilin inhibition in human models of alcohol-related liver fibrosis
All our growth factors are manufactured within a stringent quality framework, ensuring high-quality proteins that maintain robust, reproducible, and physiologically relevant stem cell and organoid cultures that adhere to our Nine-point Quality Commitment.
Upcoming Events
- British Society for Matrix Biology Autumn Meeting | 2-3 September 2025 | University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
- CARMA conference | 9 September 2025 | London, UK
- UK Stem Cell Network | 15-16 September 2025 | Manchester, UK
- Berlin Organoid Symposium | 24 September 2025 | Berlin, Germany
We'd always love to meet you at any of events, contact support@qkine.com to make an appointment.
What’s next?
Qkine are committed to producing the most high quality and bioactive growth factors and cytokines, coming soon to our extensive portfolio:
- Recombinant human EPO protein (Qk099) - Expected September 2025
If you wish to be notified when proteins are released, contact us customerservice@qkine.com