The use of 3-D cell culture technologies has grown in popularity for cell research, particularly for applications in cancer research and therapy, cell interactions, high-throughput screening and tissue engineering. In contrast to 2-D cell cultures, which are typically performed in petri dishes, 3-D cell cultures generally employ a scaffold or extracellular matrix (ECM), where cells can grow in every direction.

The advantage of using 3-D cell cultures is that they better represent in vivo–like conditions. Tissues’ intricate extracellular networks provide communication between different cells, as well with the environment. Three-dimensional cell culturing allows researchers to create 3-D spheroids or microtissues, which can be used to mimic normal cells in the body. In particular, microplate-based 3-D cell culturing platforms have provided a boost to the market, fueled by drug discovery and high-throughput screening applications.

In this format, each well of the microplate is filled with a specialized membrane that acts as a scaffold for cells to grow on. The scaffolds are designed to mimic real-life environments. Researchers can choose from an assortment of materials, including biodegradable and nonbiodegradable polymers. Cells grow on the matrix to form a 3-D spheroid in each well and are used to test the response to compounds.

Corning Life Sciences offers 96- and 384-well Spheroid microplates for culturing and analyzing cells in the same microplate. The microplate features an ultra-low attachment surface to reduce cell adhesion, allowing spheroid formation. It also employs a clear, round bottom and black walls for downstream fluorescent analysis. Corning offers a variety of natural and synthetic ECMs, including the Matrigel Matrix, PuraMatrix and Transwell Permeable supports.

While Life Technologies (Thermo Fisher Scientific) is better known for its cell culture reagents, it also offers a line of ECMs, including Geltrex, CELLstart and AlgiMatrix. The Geltrex matrix is a soluble form of reduced growth factor basement membrane extract. It is free of the lactate dehydrogenase elevating virus, which can be a problem in applications such as xenografts.

InSphero offers a 3-D cell culture technology that does not employ an ECM. Its GravityPLUS system uses specially designed microplates that create a hanging drop in each well. The drop, held in place by capillary force, holds up to 50 µL of cell suspension. The design of the microplate allows the researcher to alter the conditions or refresh the suspension of the hanging drop by removing partial amounts of the medium and adding new material from the top of the microplate.

The advancements in 3-D cell culture technologies provide a stimulus for the $1.7 billion cell culture market. The use and popularity of 3-D cell culture technology are also impacting downstream cell analysis techniques, such as high-content screening and imaging systems, and microplate readers.

3-D Cell Culture ECMs at a Glance:

Leading Suppliers

• Corning

• Life Technologies (Thermo)

• Sigma-Aldrich

Largest Markets

• Academia

• Pharmaceutical

• Biotechnology

Instrument Cost

• $100–$200 per Plate