CYTENA develops and manufactures laboratory automation for single-cell dispensing, cell line development, microplate processing and cell monitoring.
CYTENA GmbH
Zollhallenstraße 5, 79106 FreiburgNew on Amplifa
About CYTENA
CYTENA is a company founded in 2014 as a spin-off of the University of Freiburg, headquartered in Freiburg im Breisgau. The company develops and manufactures laboratory instruments and automation systems that simplify complex life science workflows – from single-cell isolation and clonal cell line development (CLD) to microplate processing, cell monitoring and assay automation. The portfolio includes single-cell printers (including UP.SIGHT, B.SIGHT, C.SIGHT, F.SIGHT), the fully automated CLD workstation C.STATION, microplate washing and dispensing systems (C.WASH, C.WASH PLUS), live-cell imaging systems (CELLCYTE X) and microbioreactors (C.BIRD, S.NEST). The systems work with disposable cartridges with no risk of cross-contamination and provide documented proof of clonality through image sequences of every isolated cell. Customers include pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms and academic institutions worldwide; according to the company, most of the ten largest pharmaceutical groups have integrated the instruments. Fields of application include cell line development for bioproduction, cell and gene therapy, microbiome research and cancer research.
- Site
- Freiburg
- Processes
- Single-cell isolation / Single-cell dispensing (single-cell printers), Microplate washing and dispensing (high-throughput, tip-free), Live cell imaging and analysis (CELLCYTE X), Microbioreactor cell cultivation (C.BIRD, S.NEST), Single-cell isolation and sorting, Automated cell line development (CLD), Microplate washing and dispensing, Live-cell imaging and cell monitoring
- Materials
- Single Cell Dispenser UP.SIGHT, Single Cell Dispenser B.SIGHT, Single Cell Dispenser F.SIGHT / F.SIGHT 2.0 / F.SIGHT OMICS, Automated Workstation C.STATION, Microplate Washer and Dispenser C.WASH PLUS, Live Cell Imager CELLCYTE X, Microbioreactors C.BIRD and S.NEST
- Certificates
- Documented proof of clonality
- Founded
- 2014
- Employees
- 51-200
- Industries
- Biotechnology research, Pharmaceuticals, Cell therapy & stem cells, Gene therapy, Microbiome research, Academic research
- 01
Research and development
- 02
Mechanical, electronic and software engineering
- 03
Manufacturing and assembly of laboratory instruments
- 04
Quality assurance and documentation
- 05
Sales, installation and support
Products and Technologies
Single Cell Dispenser UP.SIGHT
Single-cell dispensing with dual-camera imaging (nozzle and wells) for mammalian cells, plant cells and cell nuclei with documented proof of clonality.
Single Cell Dispenser B.SIGHT
Label-free single-cell isolation for bacteria and yeasts, suitable for operation in anaerobe chambers.
Single Cell Dispenser F.SIGHT / F.SIGHT 2.0 / F.SIGHT OMICS
Single-cell dispenser with fluorescence-based sorting for selective clone isolation.
Automated Workstation C.STATION
Fully automated, enclosed workstation for complete cell line development from single-cell isolation to titer screening and hit picking.
Microplate Washer and Dispenser C.WASH PLUS
High-throughput washing and dispensing in one platform without tips, with low residual volume.
Live Cell Imager CELLCYTE X
Live-cell imaging and analysis including bioinformatics software for continuous cell monitoring.
Microbioreactors C.BIRD and S.NEST
Microbioreactor solutions for small-scale cell cultivation.
Locations
Freiburg
DEHeadquarters, development and manufacturing
- Materials
- Laboratory equipment, laboratory automation
- UP.SIGHT
- B.SIGHT
- C.STATION
- C.WASH PLUS
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-cell isolation / Single-cell dispensing (single-cell printers)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Microplate washing and dispensing (high-throughput, tip-free)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Live cell imaging and analysis (CELLCYTE X)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Microbioreactor cell cultivation (C.BIRD, S.NEST)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
12 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single Cell Dispenser | CYTENA UP.SIGHT | – | Mammalian, plant, nuclei; dual-camera imaging (nozzle and well-bottom) | – | Freiburg |
| Single Cell Dispenser | CYTENA B.SIGHT | – | Bacteria, yeast; suitable for anaerobic chambers | – | Freiburg |
| Single Cell Dispenser | CYTENA C.SIGHT | – | – | – | – |
| Single Cell Dispenser with fluorescent sorting | CYTENA F.SIGHT | – | – | – | – |
| Single Cell Dispenser with fluorescent sorting | CYTENA F.SIGHT 2.0 | – | – | – | – |
| Single Cell Dispenser | CYTENA F.SIGHT OMICS | – | – | – | – |
| – | CYTENA C.STATION | – | – | – | Freiburg |
| Microplate Washer and Dispenser | CYTENA C.WASH PLUS | – | High-efficiency washing and dedicated dispensing in one platform | – | Freiburg |
| Microplate Washer and Dispenser | CYTENA C.WASH | – | – | – | – |
| Live Cell Imager and Analyzer | CYTENA CELLCYTE X | – | – | – | – |
| Microbioreactor | CYTENA C.BIRD | – | – | – | – |
| Microbioreactor | CYTENA S.NEST | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
Every isolated single cell is imaged; the image sequence is assigned to the target position and stored for clonality documentation. Disposable cartridges as the only cell-contacting components rule out cross-contamination.
| Evidence | Freiburg |
|---|---|
| Documented proof of clonality |
History
- 2014
Founded as a spin-off of the University of Freiburg
- 2015
EUR 1.1 million in start-up capital from HTGF and a private investor
- 2019
EUR 3 million Series A round; exit (acquisition)
- 2026
User Group Meeting in Freiburg together with DISPENDIX