Creative Biolabs accelerates regenerative medicine by identifying novel biologics that direct stem cell differentiation and promote tissue repair. We discover functional molecules that actively guide cell fate and enhance the body's natural regenerative capabilities. Our service provides a complete solution for discovering the next wave of regenerative therapies that can instruct and guide cellular processes. This capability is a specialized application of our wider Functional Phage Display Screening platform, which is fundamentally designed to find molecules based on the biological functions they elicit. We provide the tools for stem cell differentiation & tissue regeneration targets discovery:
The fields of stem cell biology and tissue regeneration hold the promise of repairing damaged tissues and curing diseases once thought untreatable. Stem cells possess the remarkable ability to self-renew and to differentiate into various specialized cell types, such as neurons, cardiomyocytes, or pancreatic beta cells. The central challenge lies in precisely controlling this process. How can we instruct a stem cell to become the exact cell type we need and ensure it functions correctly within the body? Current methods often rely on complex and expensive cocktails of growth factors and small molecules. These protocols can be inefficient, produce heterogeneous cell populations, and may not fully replicate the natural developmental process. Furthermore, when these cells are transplanted, they face challenges of poor survival, inadequate integration, and a non-permissive host environment. To overcome these hurdles, the field needs new tools that can:
Solving these challenges requires a discovery method that moves beyond known biology and identifies molecules based on their ability to cause a desired functional outcome, such as the appearance of a cardiac-specific protein or the migration of cells to a wound site.
Creative Biolabs offers a suite of services specifically engineered to address the core challenges of regenerative medicine. Our approach is centered on using functional, cell-based assays that directly screen for the desired biological activity, whether it is driving differentiation or promoting cell migration. We deliver functional candidates. Our specialized service offerings include:
Our workflow is a disciplined, four-phase process designed to systematically uncover and validate functional molecules for regenerative medicine. Each stage is carefully tailored to the unique requirements of stem cell and tissue repair biology.
This foundational phase ensures the project is built for success. We work in close partnership with you to establish the project's goals. This involves selecting the appropriate stem cell source (e.g., iPSCs, MSCs), defining the target differentiated cell type, and designing the differentiation protocol that will form the basis of the screen. We establish clear, quantifiable markers of success, such as the expression of a key transcription factor or a functional endpoint like cell contractility.
Here, we apply functional pressure to the phage library. The library is incubated with the stem cells, and selection is based on the emergence of the desired phenotype. For example, to find inducers of cardiac differentiation, we can use a stem cell line with a reporter gene driven by a cardiomyocyte-specific promoter. Only phages bound to cells that have successfully turned on this gene—and are therefore differentiating—will be isolated and amplified for the next round.
After several rounds of enrichment, the pool of functionally active phages is decoded. We leverage our high-capacity Phage Display NGS Service to deeply sequence the enriched population. This provides a comprehensive digital map of all potential candidates. Our bioinformatics team processes this data, clustering sequences into families and identifying the most promising candidates based on their enrichment profile and consensus motifs.
The most promising candidates are converted into soluble proteins. These molecules are then rigorously tested to confirm their biological activity. We validate their ability to induce the expression of differentiation markers (via qPCR or flow cytometry), direct morphological changes, or promote functional outcomes. You receive a final, comprehensive report with all sequence data and functional validation, along with the purified, active molecules for your own research.
Phage display is a technology that utilizes bacteriophages—viruses that infect bacteria—as a tool for molecular discovery. It's a common misconception that T-even phages can replicate independently of a host cell; in reality, all phages require a bacterial host for replication. This replication is the engine that allows us to amplify rare candidates. The field of bacteriology has identified countless phages, such as the Pseudomonas chlororaphis phage 201phi2-1 isolated from soil or the Klebsiella phage K64-1 isolated from sewage, each with unique properties. In biotechnology, we primarily use well-behaved filamentous phages as tumor-targeting immunotherapeutic bionanofibres or as scaffolds for display libraries. This concept of targeting phage therapy, which is a major focus in the field as of 2025, has been adapted for molecular discovery. By displaying a library of human proteins on the phage surface, we can screen billions of variants to find a molecule with a specific function, such as triggering stem cell differentiation.
Creative Biolabs offers an end-to-end solution for your research, providing access to a wide range of services and platforms.
| Service/Platform | Key Function |
|---|---|
| Phage Display Service | Manages the entire discovery pipeline from start to finish. |
| Phage Display Library Construction | Creates high-diversity custom libraries for your project. |
| Phage Display System Construction | Develops novel phage display formats for unique applications. |
| Phage Display Library Screening | Executes the screening campaign to isolate lead candidates. |
| Custom Phage Display Services | Designs bespoke solutions for non-standard research goals. |
| Our Screening Platform Portfolio | Offers a range of platforms for different screening needs. |
| Protein-Based (In Vitro) | Screening against purified, immobilized target molecules. |
| Cell-Based (In Vitro) | Essential for functional screening on live cells. |
| Tissue-Based (Ex Vivo) | Screening on patient-derived tissues for maximum relevance. |
| Animal-Based (In Vivo) | Discovering tissue-homing molecules in a living organism. |
Partnering with us provides a strategic edge in the rapidly evolving field of regenerative medicine.
The molecules and targets discovered through our service can revolutionize how we approach tissue repair and cell therapy.
The discovery of a highly potent and specific antibody that can drive stem cells toward a desired fate creates a valuable therapeutic and research tool. This antibody could be manufactured at scale as a defined, quality-controlled reagent, replacing complex and variable growth factor cocktails. This would standardize cell therapy manufacturing, lower costs, and improve the safety and efficacy of the final cell product.
Tissue engineering often uses scaffolds to provide structural support for regenerating tissues. The tissue-homing peptides or differentiation-inducing molecules we discover can be conjugated to these biomaterials. This creates a "smart" scaffold that not only provides support but also actively recruits the body's own stem cells to the site of injury and provides the necessary signals to guide their differentiation, promoting more effective and natural tissue regeneration.
Perhaps the most exciting application is the development of therapies that work directly within the body. A peptide that homes to damaged heart tissue after a myocardial infarction could be linked to a regenerative signal or a small molecule drug. When injected systemically, this conjugate would travel through the bloodstream, concentrate at the site of injury, and stimulate the resident cardiac stem cells to repair the damaged muscle, all without the need for cell transplantation.
The ability to control cell fate and direct tissue regeneration is the cornerstone of modern medicine. Our functional discovery platform provides the key to unlocking this potential, moving beyond observation to active instruction. Let's work together to discover the molecules that will repair, restore, and regenerate. today to discuss your vision and request a formal quote.
What type of stem cells can you work with?
Our platform is highly versatile and can be adapted to virtually any stem cell type. We have extensive experience with human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), embryonic stem cells (ESCs), and various types of adult stem cells, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from bone marrow, adipose, or umbilical cord tissue. We will work with you to select the cell source that is most relevant to your specific therapeutic or research goals.
How do you select for something as complex as cell differentiation?
We achieve this by focusing on a specific, measurable marker that signifies the successful start of differentiation. This is often accomplished by using a reporter cell line. For instance, if you're interested in pancreatic beta-cell differentiation, we can use a stem cell line where the insulin promoter drives the expression of a fluorescent protein like GFP. Our screen then becomes very simple and powerful: we select for phage-displayed molecules that make the cells glow green. This functional readout ensures we are enriching for biologically active candidates.
Can your in vivo screening service identify peptides that home to a specific damaged organ?
Yes, this is a key strength of our platform. We can perform in vivo phage display in established animal models of disease or injury, such as models for stroke, myocardial infarction, or kidney injury. A phage library is injected systemically, and after a period of circulation, the damaged organ is harvested. The phages that have specifically accumulated in that tissue are recovered and identified. This powerful technique allows for the discovery of highly specific homing peptides with immense potential for targeted drug delivery and imaging.
Please kindly note that our services can only be used to support research purposes (Not for clinical use).
Creative Biolabs is a globally recognized phage company. Creative Biolabs is committed to providing researchers with the most reliable service and the most competitive price.
