Cell Line Development and Membrane Preparation

Creative BioMart provides comprehensive cell line development and membrane preparation services to support GPCR, and ion channel research, drug screening, and structural biology studies. Leveraging proprietary codon optimization, vector design, and mammalian expression technologies, we achieve expression levels exceeding one million molecules per cell surface. Our high-expressing stable cell lines serve as reliable sources for high-quality membrane proteins, enabling consistent results in downstream assays and profiling applications. With extensive expertise and state-of-the-art facilities, Creative BioMart delivers custom-designed cell lines, ready-to-use frozen cells, and membrane preparations tailored to your specific research needs.

Background: Cell Line Development and Membrane Preparation

Cell Line Development (CLD) and Membrane Preparation are two essential, interconnected processes that form the foundation of biologics manufacturing and membrane protein–based drug discovery. Together, they enable the production of functional, high-quality reagents critical for protein characterization, screening, and therapeutic development.

Creative BioMart specializes in stable cell line construction and membrane preparation, leveraging advanced mammalian expression systems capable of producing over one million protein molecules per cell surface. This proprietary platform ensures both exceptional yield and native functionality for even the most complex membrane proteins, such as G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) and ion channels—which collectively account for more than 60% of druggable targets.

The CLD process begins with vector design and transfection, followed by selection, cloning, and screening to isolate monoclonal lines with high productivity and genetic stability. These “clonal champions” are banked for consistent large-scale production.

Figure 1. Workflow of cell line development: Schematic representation of the steps involved in developing genetically engineered cell lines/clonal populations. (Majumdar et al., 2025)

Membrane preparation from these optimized cell lines involves controlled cell disruption, differential centrifugation, and gradient purification to isolate plasma membranes enriched in integral membrane proteins. The resulting preparations are validated through radioligand binding and functional assays, ensuring activity and reproducibility across applications.

Figure 2. Membrane preparation step. (Ariono et al., 2017)

To date, Creative BioMart has established an extensive portfolio of over 200 GPCR and ion channel–expressing cell lines, supporting drug discovery, binding assays, and high-throughput screening. By integrating cell line development with membrane preparation, Creative BioMart delivers reliable, biologically relevant reagents that accelerate research and de-risk the path from target identification to lead optimization.

Our Services & Capacities

Creative BioMart provides a full suite of services for membrane protein expression and reagent preparation, including:

Stable Cell Line Development

Creative BioMart constructs and validates GPCR and ion channel stable cell lines that can be used for both internal screening and client-specific applications. High-expressing clones are selected through fluorescence detection and receptor binding analyses, ensuring consistent expression and functionality.

Membrane Preparation

All membranes are derived from stable cell lines and processed under optimized protocols to maintain receptor integrity. Each batch undergoes rigorous validation by radioligand binding assay to ensure high activity and reproducibility. Large-scale membrane production up to 10¹⁰ cells per month is available.

Frozen Cell Production

Our ready-to-use frozen cells eliminate the need for lengthy in-house culturing. These cells can be thawed, plated, and used for assays within 24 hours, providing rapid and reliable assay reagents. Optimized chemical treatments stabilize cellular activity while minimizing biological variability.

Service Workflow

Optional/Customized Services

• High-Throughput Screening Support: Cell and membrane reagents ideal for receptor-ligand interaction, drug profiling, and G-protein independent binding assays.
• Custom Projects: Flexible service options for membrane preparation or frozen cell production based on client specifications.

Why Choose Creative BioMart

High Expression Efficiency: Proprietary codon optimization and vector design enable expression exceeding one million molecules per cell.

Extensive Cell Line Portfolio: Access to over 200 GPCR and ion channel stable cell lines for immediate use or customization.

Rigorous Quality Control: Every membrane batch is validated via receptor-specific binding assays for guaranteed consistency.

Flexible Production Scale: From pilot studies to large-scale membrane or frozen cell production, we tailor output to your needs.

Time-Saving Solutions: Ready-to-use frozen cells reduce culture time and accelerate assay preparation.

Technical Expertise: A dedicated scientific team with deep experience in membrane protein biochemistry and assay development.

Case Studies and Success Stories

Case 1: Development of GPCR-overexpressing cell lines for ligand screening

We were commissioned by a pharmaceutical client to develop a stable HEK293 cell line expressing a human GPCR target for ligand-binding assays. Leveraging proprietary codon optimization and vector design technologies, our team achieved expression levels exceeding one million receptors per cell surface. The stable clone was validated through fluorescence microscopy, radioligand binding assays, and functional response profiling. Membrane preparations from this cell line displayed high receptor density and batch-to-batch consistency, enabling the client to establish a robust high-throughput screening platform that significantly improved assay reproducibility and data quality.

Case 2: Ion channel membrane preparation for functional analysis

An academic research group engaged us to produce large-scale membrane preparations from a human ion channel stable cell line for electrophysiological and biochemical studies. Using our advanced cell culture facilities, we delivered membranes derived from over 10¹⁰ cells within four weeks. Each batch underwent strict validation via ATPase activity and radioligand binding assays, confirming channel functionality and integrity. The resulting membranes demonstrated remarkable stability and reproducibility across multiple experiments, allowing the client to perform precise functional analysis and contribute valuable insights into ion channel regulation mechanisms.

What Our Clients Say

"Our team collaborated with Creative BioMart to obtain high-quality GPCR membrane preparations for our compound screening campaign targeting novel CNS receptors. The membranes exhibited exceptional receptor density and stability, leading to highly reproducible radioligand binding data across multiple assay runs. Their technical team’s expertise in GPCR expression optimization significantly shortened our assay development timeline."

— Principal Scientist, Receptor Pharmacology | Mid-Sized Biotech Company

"Creative BioMart developed a HEK293-based stable cell line overexpressing a voltage-gated ion channel crucial to our pain therapeutic program. Their codon optimization and vector design ensured robust, long-term expression. The validated frozen cell batches they provided have become our go-to assay reagents, saving us weeks of culture work and ensuring batch-to-batch consistency in our electrophysiology assays."

— Director of Cell Biology | Pharmaceutical Research Institute

"We required large-scale membrane preparations of a human transporter for cryo-EM studies, and Creative BioMart exceeded expectations. The team delivered milligram quantities of pure, functional protein within weeks, validated by ATPase and binding assays. Their consistency and quality control allowed us to proceed directly to structure determination without additional optimization."

— Senior Research Scientist, Structural Biology | Academic Research Center

"Our collaboration with Creative BioMart on custom cell line development was outstanding. We needed an inducible GPCR expression system for screening biased ligands. Their team’s deep understanding of receptor biology, combined with transparent communication, ensured delivery of a stable clone that met all our pharmacological and expression criteria ahead of schedule. Their after-service technical support was equally impressive."

— Head of Discovery Biology | Global Biopharmaceutical Company

FAQs About Cell Line Development and Membrane Preparation

• Q: What types of membrane proteins can you express and purify?

  A: We specialize in the expression of a wide range of membrane proteins, including GPCRs, ion channels, and transporters. Using our proprietary codon optimization and vector design technologies, we’ve successfully expressed and purified more than 200 targets in mammalian and yeast systems—achieving functional, high-yield preparations ideal for binding, signaling, and structural studies.

• Q: What makes your cell line development service different from other providers?

  A: Our proprietary expression technology enables exceptionally high membrane protein expression levels—up to over a million molecules per cell surface. Combined with optimized codon usage, stable integration, and stringent quality validation, our workflow delivers robust, reproducible stable cell lines within accelerated timelines.

• Q: Can you provide customized cell line or membrane preparation services?

  A: Yes. We offer fully customizable solutions, including custom stable cell line development, ready-to-use frozen cells, and membrane preparations tailored to your assay or structural biology needs. Clients can specify expression system, tag configuration, scale, and quality control parameters.

• Q: How do you ensure consistency and quality across batches?

  A: All membrane preparations are derived from validated stable cell lines. Each batch undergoes radioligand binding or ATPase activity assays to confirm receptor integrity and functionality. This rigorous QC process ensures consistent performance across multiple production lots.

• Q: How quickly can I receive membranes or frozen cells after placing an order?

  A: Thanks to our large-scale culture facilities, we can typically deliver up to 10¹⁰ cells for membrane production within one month. Ready-to-use frozen cells are available even faster—simply thaw, plate, and start assays within 24 hours.

• Q: What are the advantages of your frozen cell products?

  A: Our chemically treated frozen cells provide assay-ready material without the need for in-house culturing. They demonstrate excellent receptor performance, minimal biological variability, and consistent results across replicates—saving researchers weeks of culture time and reducing operational costs.

• Q: Do you support large-scale projects or long-term collaborations?

  A: Absolutely. We support both discovery-stage projects and large-scale production runs. Many of our clients—ranging from academic groups to global pharmaceutical companies—engage us for multi-target programs, benefiting from our scalable production capacity and dependable technical support.

References:

1. Ariono D, Khoiruddin, Prabandari D, Wulandari R, Wenten IG. Preparation and characterization of polysulfone/PEG heterogeneous ion exchange membrane for reverse electrodialysis (RED). J Phys: Conf Ser. 2017;877:012075. doi:10.1088/1742-6596/877/1/012075
2. Majumdar S, Desai R, Hans A, Dandekar P, Jain R. From efficiency to yield: exploring recent advances in CHO cell line development for monoclonal antibodies. Mol Biotechnol. 2025;67(2):369-392. doi:10.1007/s12033-024-01060-6