An efficient 3D cell culture method on biomimetic nanostructured grids

PLoS One. 2013 Sep 2;8(9):e72936. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0072936. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Current techniques of in vitro cell cultures are able to mimic the in vivo environment only to a limited extent, as they enable cells to grow only in two dimensions. Therefore cell culture approaches should rely on scaffolds that provide support comparable to the extracellular matrix. Here we demonstrate the advantages of novel nanostructured three-dimensional grids fabricated using electro-spinning technique, as scaffolds for cultures of neoplastic cells. The results of the study show that the fibers allow for a dynamic growth of HeLa cells, which form multi-layer structures of symmetrical and spherical character. This indicates that the applied scaffolds are nontoxic and allow proper flow of oxygen, nutrients, and growth factors. In addition, grids have been proven to be useful in in situ examination of cells ultrastructure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomimetics / methods*
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Tissue Engineering
  • Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry

Grants and funding

The study was supported in part by the polish National Committee for Scientific Research, grant no. NN 407 084 836. No additional external funding was received for this study. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.