title: Planar arrangement of eukaryotic cells in merged hydrogels combines the advantages of 3-D and 2-D cultures.
abstract: We report an unordered 2-D array of eukaryotic cells completely embedded in a 3-D matrix. Every cell is located at the same distance from the gel surface, which ensures uniformity of growth conditions and ease of observation characteristic of a 2-D culture. Each cell is firmly immobilized, and each has a unique address in the array. The cells can be rapidly screened, individually monitored during extended time periods, and cultured with the formation of spheroid microcolonies characteristic of a 3-D culture. Individual microcolonies can be extracted from the gel and further propagated, thus enabling isolation of pure cell clones from rather dense cell populations and rapid drug-free generation of stable cell lines.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Protein Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia.
authors.forename: Alexander A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Gordeev
authors.forename: Helena V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Chetverina
authors.forename: Alexander B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Chetverin
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D018914:Cells, Immobilized / Q000166:cytology; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010641:Phenotype; D059010:Single-Cell Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins