We started b.next as academics aiming to solve interoperability in synthetic cell research. With Nucleus, we built open protocols, but realized synthetic cells need a physical supply chain. Now we operate a manufacturing plant producing Cytosol, core materials for building cells, and recently shipped our 100th kit.

In 2023, we received a contract to build a synthetic cell sensor from open components, using an open PURE system. PURE is a defined molecular system of 36 proteins, 31 small molecules, 43 tRNAs, and ribosomes. We were blocked initially: couldn't acquire the 36 plasmids due to restrictive licensing, and available sets were incomplete or mutated. Only a few labs had built PURE, often taking over 18 months.

We re-designed and synthesized our own open-access PURE plasmids, developing straightforward protocols. After nine months, we achieved detectable output, sharing protocols in mid-2024 via Nucleus. But supply chains were brittle: Roche stopped supplying tRNAs in 2023, and Sigma followed, leaving key reagents unavailable. This led us to manufacture Cytosol as a core substrate, ensuring a reliable supply chain for the community.