Eureka Short: New 3D Culture Method Could Help Cells Better Mimic Human Biology

listen to podcast

Structure matters in biology. When developing in vitro replacement technology that mimics physiological tissue, sometimes cellular functions are lost when cells are grown in two-dimensions (2D), or flat on a dish. But growing cells in three-dimensions (3D) often restores function, more closely mimicking an in vivo environment.

Spheroids are self-assembling spherical clusters of cells that better mimic the cellular function of certain tumors. Until recently, systems that encouraged the growth of cellular spheroids have been complex and expensive.

But a recent paper published in Analyst, a Journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry, has highlighted a method of producing spheroids in a 384-well plate. According to authors of the paper, the new method promotes spheroid cluster formation and could provide a high-throughput, replacement technology for drug testing.  The original paper can be accessed here.

Thanks for listening to this Eureka Short, its science in bite-sized form.

[The above text is a transcript of this podcast.]
 

Christina Winnicker has been the director of enrichment and behavioral medicine with Charles River since 2007. Prior to joining Charles River, she was the Chief of Comparative Clinical Services at Columbia University in New York City.