VitaCyteUnravelling Cell Isolation
VitaCyte manufactures and supplies GMP Grade purified-defined Clostridium histolyticum collagenase and protease enzymes to researchers, commercial cell suppliers, and institutions that manufacture cells as therapeutic agents. VitaCyte’s capabilities to custom manufacture products enables collaboration with companies who use enzymes for commercial applications.

Research

Cell Suppliers

Cell Therapy

Our ProductsPurified Cell and Tissue Dissociation Enzymes
Highly Purified
Lot to Lot Consistent
Best Performing Enzymes
Ability to Design Mixtures for Specific Applications
Ability to Customize Product to Meet Your Needs
Purified-Defined EnzymesWhat does it mean?
Collagenase suppliers can be divided into three categories:
Traditional Crude or Enriched Collagenase
Purified Collagenase
Purified-Defined Collagenase
Our StoryHow VitaCyte Began
VitaCyte’s co-founders, Bob McCarthy and Francis Dwulet, were key contributors to the development of the first commercial, purified collagenase-protease enzyme mixture used to prepare cells for subsequent transplantation. This improved tissue dissociation enzyme reagent contributed to success of the “Edmonton Protocol,” the first report of successful treatment of adult patients with Type 1 Diabetes where 7 of 7 patients were “insulin independent” one year after islet transplantation. Prior to the introduction of this purified enzyme reagent, most laboratories performing this clinical research procedure were spending significant amounts of time qualifying collagenase lots for their effectiveness to isolate human islets. Once a lot was selected, the lot qualification procedure was repeated within a year, often because of the instability of the enzymes on storage.

ResourcesAll things cell isolation
Commentary: One Approach to Increasing Islet Yields from Chronic Pancreatitis Patients
Announcement: Bashoo Naziruddin will discuss the results from the report noted below as part of his webinar on 24 April 2025 on “Challenges facing the isolation of high-quality islets for total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation.” Robert McCarthy In a...
Challenges Facing the Isolation of High-Quality Islets for Total Pancreatectomy with Islet Autotransplantation
Thursday, April 24, 2025 | 11 AM ETPresented byBashoo Naziruddin, PhDTotal pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT) is the preferred treatment for patients with refractory chronic pancreatitis (CP) who fail to respond to other medical interventions. This...
Follow up on Williams’ “Inconvenient Truths” Webinar
Robert McCarthy On March 6, 2025, Stu Williams’ 45-minute webinar “Characterization and Therapeutic Use of Adipose Derived Cells: Some Inconvenient Truths.” provided a comprehensive overview of the methods used to isolate and characterize adipose-derived cells, ending...
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Get updates on what’s new, important changes, upcoming webinars and more!
For questions regarding enzyme useage, regardless if they are directly related to VitaCyte’s products, Customer Service is excellent. People at the company are eager to share their valuable experience and opinions on how best to perform procedures from donors of various species.
Latest NewsAll things cell isolation
Stress Awareness Month
April is Stress Awareness MonthFor the whole month of April, there will be a Pancreas Squishy Toy added to your orders. USA only. As supplies last.Remember, stress toys are for squeezing, not for throwing at the people who stress you out.
ISCT 2025
We are proud to partner with International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy 2025.May 7 – 10, 2025 | New Orleans, USAAttendingRobert McCarthyPresident & Co-FounderAndrew BreiteDirector of Quality AssuranceAbstract Bob McCarthy will be presenting an abstract #...
Employee Spotlight
January - March 2025 We like to celebrate every milestone of our employees who make VitaCyte possible.happy birthdayDan CollinsAndrew BreiteDonna Skinnerhappy work anniversaryMike Green17 years | Quality ControlAmber McDonough7 years | FinanceDan Collins11 years |...