Other Applications for G-Rex®

G-Rex®'s simplicity makes it a versatile platform

Beyond canonical modalities used in traditional cell and gene therapy applications, G-Rex® has been deployed across a variety of additional applications. For over 20 years G-Rex® has supported unconventional modalities that are making a comeback today and may yet prove to be the next big thing.

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Explore Additional Applications

One simple platform. Many different applications.

Select an application to explore how investigators have used G-Rex®.

G-Rex® for iNKT & CAR-iNKT cell therapy

In iNKT cell therapy, simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells combine innate and adaptive immune functions, giving them multiple ways to recognize tumors and reshape the tumor microenvironment. After years outside the mainstream, advances in cell expansion and engineering are renewing interest in iNKT cells as both autologous and allogeneic therapies.

PBMC-derived iNKT cells

Investigators at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital use G-Rex® to restimulate and expand donor-derived iNKT cells following isolation and genetic modification. These workflows have supported the development and evaluation of CAR-iNKT cells engineered for improved memory, metabolic fitness, persistence, and antitumor activity.

Tian et al., Cancer Immunol Res, 2025; Barragán Bravo et al., Mol Ther, 2026

HSPC-derived allogeneic CAR-iNKT cells

Investigators at UCLA are developing an alternative approach in which engineered CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells undergo transposition before differentiation into allogeneic CAR-iNKT cells. Their G-Rex® process produces billions of mature iNKT cells and was optimized time- and cost-effectively in the G-Rex®6M well plate series by leveraging G-Rex®'s linear scalability.

Li et al., J Hematol Oncol, 2025; Li et al., Med, 2025; Li et al., Exp Hematol Oncol, 2026

G-Rex® Grant Tour Los Angeles, Lili Yang, 2026

Referenceable Base

G-Rex® for CIK & CAR-CIK cell therapy

In CIK cell therapy, simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells combine T-cell and natural killer-like properties, enabling non-MHC-restricted recognition of tumor cells. Their relatively simple biology has supported clinical research for decades, while advances in genetic engineering are renewing interest in both CIK and CAR-CIK therapies.

GMP-scalable CIK-cell manufacturing

Investigators in Italy developed serum-free, GMP-grade CIK-cell processes using G-Rex®. Across these workflows, G-Rex® reduced cell-density adjustments and media handling while supporting progression from process development into large-scale production for clinical use.

Palmerini et al., Cytotherapy, 2020; Ventura et al., J Immunother Cancer, 2020; Gotti et al., Cytotherapy, 2022

Transposition-generated CAR-CIK cells

More recent work has integrated non-viral transposition with G-Rex® expansion to manufacture CAR-CIK cells. These processes extend a familiar CIK manufacturing approach into engineered cell therapy while preserving a simple and GMP-scalable production strategy.

Boscarato et al., Scientific poster, 2025; Pisani et al., J Transl Med, 2025; Gotti et al., Scientific poster, 2025

Featured manuscript

Optimization of therapeutic T cell expansion in G-Rex® device and applicability to large-scale production for clinical use

Gotti E, et al. Cytotherapy. 2022;24:334–343.

Download the manuscript ↓View →

G-Rex® for MoDC & TAAT cell therapy

In MoDC and TAAT cell therapy, simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

Tumor-associated antigen-specific T (TAAT) cells are polyclonal T-cell products activated against multiple tumor-associated antigens presented by antigen-presenting cells. This is one of the oldest applications of G-Rex® and is now being advanced by Marker Therapeutics as a differentiated, non-genetically modified cell therapy platform.

The foundation of Marker Therapeutics' multi-antigen platform

Early work at Baylor College of Medicine used G-Rex® to simplify the production of antigen-specific T cells targeting multiple tumor-associated antigens. That body of work became the foundation for the multiTAA platform now developed by Marker Therapeutics.

Smith et al., Conference poster (ISCT), 2022; Marker Therapeutics

MoDC and TAAT production in the same G-Rex®

Marker Therapeutics has developed a streamlined workflow in which monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDCs) are manufactured in G-Rex® and then used as antigen-presenting cells for TAAT-cell production in the same device. The approach consolidates two linked manufacturing steps within one simple culture platform.

Vozniuk et al., MoDC Manufacturing (Poster), 2025; Vozniuk et al., TAAT Production (Poster), 2025

G-Rex® Grant Tour Houston, Ann Leen, 2026

G-Rex® for pancreatic islets

In pancreatic islet applications, simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

Pancreatic islets require a culture environment that supports efficient oxygen transfer without excessive handling. By placing cells directly above a gas-permeable membrane, G-Rex® has supported high-density islet culture, shipping, and experimental transplantation workflows for nearly two decades.

Nearly two decades of gas-permeable islet culture

Beginning in 2006, Papas and colleagues showed that culturing isolated islets on gas-permeable silicone membranes could improve islet recovery while preserving function. Later peer-reviewed work from the same group demonstrated that silicone-rubber-membrane devices permit high-density islet culture without adverse effects on viability, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, or oxygen-consumption rate.

Papas et al., Scientific poster, 2006; Avgoustiniatos et al., Front Bioeng Biotechnol, 2024

From culture to shipping and transplantation research

G-Rex® has subsequently been used for juvenile porcine islet culture, shipment of fresh human islets and human stem-cell-derived islets, and experimental workflows evaluating islet encapsulation and transplantation. Together, these studies show how a simple gas-permeable platform can support islets across multiple stages of research and handling.

Lonza, Technical instructions, 2015; Weegman et al., Cell Transplant, 2016; Einstein et al., Front Transplant, 2023; Davila et al., Transplantation, 2025

G-Rex® for Other Research Applications

In cell-based research, simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

The same features that make G-Rex® useful for cell therapy manufacturing - efficient gas exchange, a large media reservoir, static operation, and linear scalability - have also made it useful across a broad range of cell-based research applications.

Blood and platelet precursors

Researchers have used G-Rex® to support large-scale ex vivo production of red blood cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and megakaryocytes from CD34+ cells, extending the platform into transfusion-medicine and platelet-production research.

Heideveld, PhD Thesis, University of Amsterdam, 2018; Martinez and Miller, Stem Cells Transl Med, 2019; Heshusius et al., Blood Adv, 2019; Kweon et al., Blood Res, 2023

Stem-cell-derived immune cells

G-Rex® has supported the expansion and differentiation of stem-cell-derived immune cells, including umbilical-cord-blood-derived dendritic cells and human iPSC-derived macrophages.

Gounari et al., Conference abstract/poster (EBMT), 2014; Pateraki et al., J Clin Med, 2024; De Homdedeu et al., Front Immunol, 2026

Organoids and engineered tissues

Investigators have used G-Rex® to culture hiPSC-derived multi-tissue organoids and engineered human epidermis, demonstrating utility in complex three-dimensional and tissue-like systems.

Li et al., bioRxiv, 2021; Feisst et al., Cytotherapy, 2025

Cell lines and antibody production

Suspension cell lines, including K562, Jurkat, hybridoma, and antibody-producing cells, have been cultured in G-Rex® for research-scale cell production and monoclonal-antibody discovery.

Bajgain et al., Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev, 2014; Kanagaraj and Wegener, Methods protocol, 2022; Kafai et al., J Exp Med, 2022; Parrington et al., JCI Insight, 2023

Experimental immune and disease models

G-Rex® has also supported splenocyte processing, acute myeloid leukemia bone-marrow models, and other workflows requiring flexible expansion or handling of primary and transformed cells.

Huan et al., Leukemia, 2015; Grayson et al., PLOS ONE, 2020

Evidence & Bibliography

Explore the evidence behind G-Rex®'s versatility.

Peer-reviewed manuscripts, abstracts, posters, protocols, and technical resources documenting the use of G-Rex® across additional cell therapy and research applications.

  1. Tian G, et al. PRDM1 Is a Key Regulator of the NKT-cell Central Memory Program and Effector Function. Cancer Immunology Research. 2025;13:577-590.
  2. Barragan Bravo GA, et al. IL-18 metabolically reprograms CAR-expressing natural killer T cells and enhances their antitumor activity. Molecular Therapy. 2026;34(4).
  3. Li Y-R, et al. Targeting triple-negative breast cancer using cord-blood CD34+ HSPC-derived mesothelin-specific CAR-NKT cells with potent antitumor activity. Journal of Hematology & Oncology. 2025;18:86.
  4. Li Y-R, et al. Overcoming ovarian cancer resistance and evasion to CAR-T cell therapy by harnessing allogeneic CAR-NKT cells. Med. 2025;6:100804.
  5. Li Y-R, et al. Stem cell engineering for the generation of allogeneic CAR-directed natural killer T cells targeting endometrial carcinoma. Experimental Hematology & Oncology. 2026;15:14.
  6. Yang L. Presentation on HSPC-derived allogeneic CAR-NKT cell manufacturing and scale-up. G-Rex® Grant Tour, Los Angeles. 2026.
  7. Palmerini P, et al. A serum-free protocol for the ex vivo expansion of Cytokine-Induced Killer cells using gas-permeable static culture flasks. Cytotherapy. 2020;22:511-518.
  8. Ventura A, et al. Optimization of a GMP-grade large-scale expansion protocol for cytokine-induced killer cells using gas-permeable static culture flasks. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer. 2020;8(Suppl 2):A58.
  9. Dalla Pieta A, et al. Innovative therapeutic strategy for B-cell malignancies that combines obinutuzumab and cytokine-induced killer cells. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer. 2021;9:e002475.
  10. Gotti E, et al. Optimization of therapeutic T cell expansion in G-Rex® device and applicability to large-scale production for clinical use. Cytotherapy. 2022;24:334-343.
  11. Cappuzzello E, et al. How can Cytokine-induced killer cells overcome CAR-T cell limits. Frontiers in Immunology. 2023;14:1229540.
  12. Boscarato S, et al. Efficient and rapid GMP-scalable production of CAR-T and CIK cells. Scientific poster. 2025.
  13. Gotti E, et al. Optimization of a GMP-Compliant Workflow for the Use of Cryopreserved G-CSF-Mobilized Apheresis Units in ATMP Manufacturing. Scientific poster. 2025.
  14. Pisani I, et al. Optimized GMP-grade production of non-viral Sleeping Beauty-generated CARCIK cells for enhanced fitness and clinical scalability. Journal of Translational Medicine. 2025;23:559.
  15. Gounari E, Papadopoulou A, et al. Large-scale myeloid dendritic cells generation from umbilical CD34+ cells using G-Rex® bioreactors. EBMT 2014. Abstract/poster. 2014.
  16. Pateraki P, et al. Perspectives for the Use of Umbilical Cord Blood in Transplantation and Beyond: Initiatives for an Advanced and Sustainable Public Banking Program in Greece. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2024;13:1152.
  17. Smith A, et al. Rapid and Simplified Process for Manufacturing Multi-Tumor-Associated Antigen Specific T Cells. ISCT Annual Meeting. Poster. 2022.
  18. Vozniuk D, et al. Rapid Manufacturing of Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells in a G-Rex® Device with a Seamless Transition to the Production of Tumor-Associated Antigen-Specific T Cells in the Same Device. Scientific poster. 2025.
  19. Vozniuk D, et al. Streamlined Production of Tumor-Associated Antigen-Specific T Cells from Antigen-Naive Donors in a G-Rex® Device Using Autologous Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells Manufactured in the Same Device as Antigen-Presenting Cells. Scientific poster. 2025.
  20. Papas KK, et al. Improved Islet Culture on Top of Gas-Permeable Membranes. Scientific poster. 2006.
  21. Lonza. Fresh Human Pancreatic Islets: Instructions for Use. Technical instructions. 2015.
  22. Weegman BP, et al. Plasticity and Aggregation of Juvenile Porcine Islets in Modified Culture: Preliminary Observations. Cell Transplantation. 2016;25:1763-1775.
  23. Einstein SA, et al. Hypoxia within subcutaneously implanted macroencapsulation devices limits the viability and functionality of densely loaded islets. Frontiers in Transplantation. 2023;2:1257029.
  24. Avgoustiniatos ES, et al. Silicone rubber membrane devices permit islet culture at high density without adverse effects. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. 2024;12:1401608.
  25. Davila C, et al. hSC-islets maintain their viability and function when shipped using gas-permeable silicone rubber membrane vessels. Transplantation. 2025;109(10S):S42.
  26. Bajgain P, et al. Optimizing the production of suspension cells using the G-Rex® 'M' series. Molecular Therapy - Methods & Clinical Development. 2014;1:14015.
  27. Huan J, et al. Coordinate regulation of residual bone marrow function by paracrine trafficking of AML exosomes. Leukemia. 2015;29:2285-2295.
  28. Heideveld E. The role of macrophages in human erythropoiesis. PhD thesis, University of Amsterdam. 2018.
  29. Martinez AF, Miller WM. Enabling Large-Scale Ex Vivo Production of Megakaryocytes from CD34+ Cells Using Gas-Permeable Surfaces. STEM CELLS Translational Medicine. 2019;8:658-670.
  30. Heshusius S, et al. Large-scale in vitro production of red blood cells from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Blood Advances. 2019;3:3337-3350.
  31. Grayson JM, et al. Photodepletion with 2-Se-Cl prevents lethal graft-versus-host disease while preserving antitumor immunity. PLOS ONE. 2020.
  32. Li M, et al. Self-organized emergence of hyaline cartilage in hiPSC-derived multi-tissue organoids. bioRxiv. 2021.
  33. Kafai NM, et al. Neutralizing antibodies protect mice against Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus aerosol challenge. Journal of Experimental Medicine. 2022;219:e20212532.
  34. Kanagaraj and Wegener. Jurkats Culture in G-Rex®. Methods protocol. 2022.
  35. Kweon S, et al. Current status of red blood cell manufacturing in 3D culture and bioreactors. Blood Research. 2023;58:S46-S51.
  36. Parrington HM, et al. Potently neutralizing human mAbs against the zoonotic pararubulavirus Sosuga virus. JCI Insight. 2023;8:e166811.
  37. Feisst V, et al. Human keratinocytes grown at a gas-permeable interface in vitro stratify correctly to generate engineered human epidermis. Cytotherapy. 2025;27:475-482.
  38. De Homdedeu M, et al. Robust, scalable and xeno-free protocol for differentiating human induced pluripotent stem cells into functional macrophages. Frontiers in Immunology. 2026;16:1719452.

Next Steps

Have another application in mind?

G-Rex® has supported applications far beyond the examples shown here. If you are developing an unconventional cell type, tissue, model, or manufacturing workflow, a G-Rex® Optimization Specialist can help you evaluate platform fit and define a practical path forward.

Connect with a G-Rex® Optimization Specialist →