3D cell culture in liquid form. This is quite new to me.
Usually, I always heard about 3D collagen gel model for cell profiration or migration. In this new case they (Nissan Chemical Industries) add which it is called "Polymer X" into a culture medium (DMEM) making attached cells (A549, HCT116) became suspended cells when cultured them in 96 well plate. Cells in medium with Polymer X are in proper size of sphere and scatter around the plate. They claim that by adding this Polymer X, cell proliferation is higher than that found in low adhersive plate.
They purpose this new Polymer X as a tool in screening method for anticancer agents. They show that when cells are proper size of sphere (3 or 4 cells per sphere), anticancer agents are easily delivered to cells than in monolayer cell culture.
An introduction of this method can be seen in the attachment.
Any comments or experiences on this novel method?
I am studying the role of the microenvironment on chemosensitivity in cancer cells for a part of my project. The plates you are talking about make the cells adhere less well to the plate. This means that the cells initially (before forming spheres) have more 'exposed' surface to get into contact with drugs and possibly for that reason are more sensitive. My experience with this is that the timing of when you add the drug greatly influences the outcome of your experiment. Another question to keep in mind is what you actually want to study. If you want to know whether a particular drug in the blood stream can target a migrating cell or perhaps cluster of cells, this is probably a good system. However, a cell in a 3D matrix in vivo will encounter a variety of other cells and proteins in the microenvironment such as collagen or fibronectin and might for that reason adhere better and respond differently. My experience with this is that differently coated surfaces can greatly influence the behaviour of cells to drugs in which potentially the signaling of proteins like integrins will affect the outcome of your experiments. In addition, a 2D coated surface will also be much different than 3D coated surfaces (some companies now offer artificially created 3D plastics that you can coat with your desired coating).
Hello Patrcia,
Thank you for your nice info.
Sound like this novel method is good for study of chemotherapy on Metastasized Cancer or Circulating Tumor Cells.
I still have a question on Polymer X, which make cells floated and spheric, might have effect on any receptors on plasma membrane as it shown by manufacturer that Polymer X will likely wrapping around cell sphere.
I guess you are right that they will change the signalling of receptor in order for the cells to adhere to each other. From the company page it is not entirely clear how this polymer works to be honest.
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