The role of dimensionality is a growing field in cell biology, but many labs cannot afford new tools that let cells grow in three dimensions—which could, in theory, better represent what happens in vivo. As a member of F1000’s Faculty of Cell Biology, Ken Yamada at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research flagged a recent PNAS study that described an easy alternative for scientists who want to explore 3D cell culture: paper (106:18457–62, 2009).
Tips For Doing 3D Cell Culture
TS: Cells are normally grown in a single layer on a plastic surface or in suspension. What’s wrong with this approach?
KY: It’s obviously spatially artificial. You lose normal three-dimensional architecture and the normal interactions of cells with their surroundings, both with the matrix and other cells. The result is usually altered cell shape and gene expression. It ...
