New technologies for 3D cultivation of cells

Growing cells in three dimensions in laboratory is a promising way for testing new cancer compounds, for production of human stem cells or it can be a possible way how to reduce tests on laboratory animals. The three dimensions allow cells to create cluster and microtissues, therefore scientist can get more realistic view on how drugs or other compounds behave in complex organism.

Recently two u.s. universities published papers of their research in field of construction laboratory equipment for cultivaton of cells in three dimensions.

Team from Brown university lead by Jeffrey Morgan developed a 3-D Petri dishes. Their technique employs a new dish – cleverly crafted from a sugary substance long used in science laboratories – that allows cells to self-assemble naturally and form “microtissues.” Principles and a description of how it works is published in the journal **Tissue Engineering.

A new 3-D Petri dish allows cells to assemble themselves into bits of microtissue with natural cell-to-cell connections. (Foto: Peter Chai and Anthony Napolitano)

Team from Durham University lead by Dr Stefan Przyborski developed a plastic scaffold which is made of highly porous polystyrene, is about the size of a ten pence piece and resembles a thin white disc. It has a structure resembling that of a sponge and is riddled with tiny holes which scientists are able to populate with cells which are then cultivated under laboratory conditions. A study proving the effectiveness of the scaffold, funded by ReInnervate and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), was recently published in the Journal of Anatomy.

Dr Przyborski with the plastic scaffold which allows stem cells and other tissues to be grown in a more realistic three-dimensional (3D) form compared to the traditional flat surface of a Petri dish. (Foto: Image courtesy of Durham University)

Both technologies are easy to use and inexpensive allowing fast preparation of microtissues. "There are other ways to growing cells in 3D in the laboratory. However, these approaches are restricted by their variability, complexity, expense and they are not easily adapted to routine use in high throughput screening studies." said Stefan Przyborski.

Source: Brown University and Durham University