title: 3D Cell Culture in a Self-Assembled Nanofiber Environment.
abstract: The development and utilization of three-dimensional cell culture platforms has been gaining more traction. Three-dimensional culture platforms are capable of mimicking in vivo microenvironments, which provide greater physiological relevance in comparison to conventional two-dimensional cultures. The majority of three-dimensional culture platforms are challenged by the lack of cell attachment, long polymerization times, and inclusion of undefined xenobiotics, and cytotoxic cross-linkers. In this study, we review the use of a highly defined material composed of naturally occurring compounds, hyaluronic acid and chitosan, known as Cell-Mate3DTM. Moreover, we provide an original measurement of Young's modulus using a uniaxial unconfined compression method to elucidate the difference in microenvironment rigidity for acellular and cellular conditions. When hydrated into a tissue-like hybrid hydrocolloid/hydrogel, Cell-Mate3DTM is a highly versatile three-dimensional culture platform that enables downstream applications such as flow cytometry, immunostaining, histological staining, and functional studies to be applied with relative ease.
authors.affiliation: BRTI Life Sciences, Two Harbors, MN, United States of America.
authors.forename: Yi Wen
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8239-1137
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.affiliation: BRTI Life Sciences, Two Harbors, MN, United States of America.
authors.forename: Eu Han
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: BRTI Life Sciences, Two Harbors, MN, United States of America.
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Gubbe
authors.affiliation: BRTI Life Sciences, Two Harbors, MN, United States of America.
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Brekke
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D057139:Nanofibers