iPSC Reprogramming Services by Episomal Vectors

Q: What are the typical success rates of episomal iPSC reprogramming at Creative Biolabs?

Success rates depend on the starting cell type and sample quality. With fibroblasts and PBMCs, our optimized protocols routinely achieve high efficiency, generating multiple stable clones per project. Each line undergoes rigorous QC to ensure only high-quality, pluripotent, and genomically stable iPSCs are delivered.

Q: Can Creative Biolabs provide differentiation services in addition to reprogramming?

Absolutely. We offer lineage-specific differentiation services into neuronal, cardiac, hepatic, and hematopoietic lineages, as well as custom differentiation protocols upon request. This ensures that your episomal iPSCs are immediately usable for downstream applications such as disease modeling, screening, or regenerative research.

Q: Do you accept rare or challenging samples?

Yes. Our scientists are experienced in handling a wide variety of somatic cell sources, including rare disease samples and low-viability cells. We optimize reprogramming conditions on a case-by-case basis and provide feasibility assessments upfront, ensuring the best possible outcomes for challenging projects.

Q: How long will my project take from start to finish?

Timelines vary with project scope, but a standard episomal reprogramming workflow usually takes several months, including colony formation, expansion, and quality control. Additional assays, such as teratoma formation or WGS, may extend timelines. We provide milestone updates to keep you informed at every stage.

What is Episomal Vector iPSC Reprogramming?

Fig.1 Workflow of iPSC reprogramming and differentiation^1,4.

Episomal vectors are non-viral, plasmid-based systems carrying OriP/EBNA1 elements from Epstein-Barr virus. These elements enable plasmid replication and transient retention in dividing cells without genomic integration. Within 10–15 passages, vectors are completely lost, yielding footprint-free iPSCs ideal for disease modeling and cell therapy development.

Table1. Comparison to other reprogramming methods

Reprogramming Method	Genomic Integration?	Efficiency	Turnaround Time
Retroviral/Lentiviral	Yes	High (1–5%)	4–6 weeks
Sendai Virus	No	High (0.5–3%)	5–8 weeks
Episomal Vectors	No	Moderate (0.1–1%)	6–10 weeks
mRNA Reprogramming	No	Low (<0.1%)	8–12 weeks

Get Started Today

Technical Workflow for iPSC Reprogramming by Episomal Vectors

Over the last two decades, our teams have supported hundreds of labs, biotech companies, and pharma innovators by generating custom iPSC lines using episomal vectors. We leverage our deep understanding of stem cell biology with robust QC systems to guarantee reproducibility, consistency, and premium-grade deliverables. Our iPSC reprogramming by episomal vectors service follows a rigorously optimized, step-by-step protocol. Below is a detailed breakdown of our standardized workflow.

Source Cell Processing

We reprogram iPSCs from a variety of somatic cell sources.

Cell Sources	Isolation & Expansion
Dermal fibroblasts	Cultured in medium supplemented with FBS and bFGF to maintain viability.
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)	Isolated, expanded in medium with SCF, IL-3, and IL-6 for hematopoietic progenitor enrichment.
Urine-derived epithelial cells	Processed via urothelial cell culture medium with EGF and Rho kinase inhibitor to prevent anoikis.
Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs)	Differentiated from stromal vascular fraction (SVF) and expanded in adipocyte growth medium.

Episomal Transfection

We offer plasmid design with the following options.

Vector backbone: pCEP4-based episomal plasmids with EBNA1/OriP system for transient replication.
Reprogramming factors: Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc (OSKM) ± Lin28 or Nanog under CAG promoter for strong, sustained expression.
Optional: GFP/RFP reporter for tracking transfection efficiency.

iPSC Colony Picking & Expansion

Emerging colonies are screened for morphology, picked, and expanded under xeno-free, GMP-compliant conditions.

Pluripotency & Quality Control

Every generated iPSC line undergoes multi-tier validation:

Expression of pluripotency markers (Nanog, Oct4, TRA-1-60, SSEA-4)
Karyotype analysis
Functional differentiation assays (EB formation, trilineage differentiation)

Discuss Your Project

Applications of Episomal iPSC Reprogramming

Disease Modeling
Generate patient-specific iPSCs for neurological, cardiac, or metabolic disorders.
Drug Screening Platforms
Create isogenic panels for toxicity testing or compound validation.
CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing
Edit footprint-free iPSCs for knockouts (KO), knockins (KI), or point mutations.
Organoid Generation
Derive brain, gut, or kidney organoids from genetically pristine iPSCs.

Customization Options

Our episomal iPSC reprogramming platform is fully adaptable, allowing you to define specifications that align perfectly with your scientific or commercial objectives.

Customization	Options
Flexible Somatic Cell Sources	Fibroblasts or PBMCs for personalized medicine projects Cord blood or keratinocytes for regenerative and developmental studies Rare or disease-specific cell types under customized procurement agreements
Tailored Reprogramming Factor Design	Standard Yamanaka factors (OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, L-MYC, LIN28) Modified combinations optimized for difficult-to-reprogram cells Factor omission strategies for reduced oncogenic risk Addition of lineage-specific enhancers to accelerate downstream differentiation
Scalability & Production Options	Small-batch reprogramming for proof-of-concept studies Mid-scale iPSC expansion for drug screening platforms Large-scale production for industrial or therapeutic pipelines
Custom Deliverables	Cryopreserved vials in user-defined quantities Differentiation-ready iPSCs for specific lineages (neuronal, hepatic, cardiac, hematopoietic) Data output tailored to publication or internal R&D reporting

Customization is more than an option, it is the core of our service philosophy. We adapt our technologies, workflows, and documentation to fit your project seamlessly.

Let's Reprogram Together

Data Output & Documentation

Our episomal reprogramming services are backed by a robust data output package designed to empower researchers with the clarity and confidence they need to move forward.

Standard Data Package - Each project is delivered with a core dataset that confirms the authenticity, pluripotency, and stability of your newly generated iPSCs.
Extended Characterization Options - For clients with advanced requirements, we provide additional analyses to deepen the characterization of iPSC lines.
Documentation Style - We understand that different stakeholders require different levels of detail. Our report formats are customizable.
Delivery Formats - All results are compiled into a comprehensive package.

Published Data

In this study, researchers performed a side-by-side comparison of iPSC colony-forming efficiencies in fibroblasts and epithelial cells transiently transfected with episomal plasmids and demonstrated that iPSC generation efficiency was highest when donor samples were derived from epithelial cells. They determined that reprogramming efficiency of episomal system could be further improved.

Fibroblasts and epithelial cells transiently transfected with episomal plasmids.(OA Literature)

Fig.2. Schematic diagram of the protocol used to obtain iPSCs by transient introduction of episomes carrying OCT3/4, SOX2, KLF4, L-MYC, and LIN28 transcription factors and dominant negative mutant of p53 protein into human somatic cells^2,4.

In this study, researchers determined optimal conditions for generating integration-free iPSCs from human fibroblasts through the use of different concentrations of episomal vectors (OCT4/p53, SOX2/KLF4, L-MYC/LIN28A) and different plating cell density. They found that optimized vector concentration and cell density accelerate reprogramming and improve iPSC generation.

iPSCs from human fibroblasts through episomal vectors.(OA Literature)

Fig.3 Generation of integration-free Epi-iPSCs from fibroblasts by using episomal vectors^3,4.

What Our Clients Say

"Their episomal reprogramming service converted our ALS patient fibroblasts into integration-free iPSCs in 8 weeks. All lines passed stringent QC, and we've since differentiated them into motor neurons for drug screening."

— Dr. Arjun Patel

"After failed retroviral reprogramming attempts, their team rescued our rare disease project. The episomal iPSCs showed better genomic stability and differentiation potential."

— Prof. James O'Donnell

"Our collaboration with Creative Biolabs was seamless. They not only delivered high-quality episomal iPSCs but also provided guidance on downstream differentiation. It felt like working with a partner, not just a service provider."

— Dr. Simone Russo

"The customer support was exceptional. We appreciated the direct access to project managers and the responsiveness of their scientists when troubleshooting. It's rare to find a CRO that values communication this highly."

— Prof. Kenji Tanaka

FAQ

Q: What are the typical success rates of episomal iPSC reprogramming at Creative Biolabs?

A: Success rates depend on the starting cell type and sample quality. With fibroblasts and PBMCs, our optimized protocols routinely achieve high efficiency, generating multiple stable clones per project. Each line undergoes rigorous QC to ensure only high-quality, pluripotent, and genomically stable iPSCs are delivered.

Q: Can Creative Biolabs provide differentiation services in addition to reprogramming?

A: Absolutely. We offer lineage-specific differentiation services into neuronal, cardiac, hepatic, and hematopoietic lineages, as well as custom differentiation protocols upon request. This ensures that your episomal iPSCs are immediately usable for downstream applications such as disease modeling, screening, or regenerative research.

Q: Do you accept rare or challenging samples?

A: Yes. Our scientists are experienced in handling a wide variety of somatic cell sources, including rare disease samples and low-viability cells. We optimize reprogramming conditions on a case-by-case basis and provide feasibility assessments upfront, ensuring the best possible outcomes for challenging projects.

Q: How long will my project take from start to finish?

A: Timelines vary with project scope, but a standard episomal reprogramming workflow usually takes several months, including colony formation, expansion, and quality control. Additional assays, such as teratoma formation or WGS, may extend timelines. We provide milestone updates to keep you informed at every stage

Take the Next Step with Creative Biolabs

1. Contact Us

via the Inquiry Form or Email

2. Define Your Needs

Cell Type, Function, Quantity, Modifications

3. Kickstart the Project

Our Expert Team Guiding Every Step

When it comes to iPSC reprogramming by episomal vectors, precision, safety, and reliability are everything. Creative Biolabs combines world-class technical know-how with a deep understanding of stem cell biology to empower researchers across academia, biotech, and pharma.

Let us tailor a reprogramming strategy for your unique research needs. Contact Us Now!

References

Frazer-Abel, Ashley, Michael Kirschfink, and Zoltán Prohászka. "Expanding horizons in complement analysis and quality control." Frontiers in immunology 12 (2021): 697313. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.697313
Drozd, Anna M., et al. "Generation of human iPSCs from cells of fibroblastic and epithelial origin by means of the oriP/EBNA-1 episomal reprogramming system." Stem cell research & therapy 6.1 (2015): 122. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-015-0112-3.
Bang, Jin Seok, et al. "Optimization of episomal reprogramming for generation of human induced pluripotent stem cells from fibroblasts." Animal cells and systems 22.2 (2018): 132-139. https://doi.org/10.1080/19768354.2018.1451367.
Distributed under Open Access license CC BY 4.0, without modification.

Created August 2025