Microtissues®

Summary

Published in Journal of Controlled Release (2014), this peer-reviewed study used 3D Petri Dish® micro-molds to form scaffold-free 3D microtissues. Full citation: Vellonen, Kati-Sisko, et al. A critical assessment of in vitro tissue models for ADME and drug delivery

🫁 Hepatic & Liver

A critical assessment of in vitro tissue models for ADME and drug delivery

Journal of Controlled Release 2014 Vellonen, Kati-Sisko, et al
Cite as: Vellonen, Kati-Sisko, et al. A critical assessment of in vitro tissue models for ADME and drug delivery. Journal of Controlled Release (2014). doi:10.1016/j.jconrel.2014.06.044 doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2014.06.044

Research Overview

Cultured cells underpin evaluation of new drugs and delivery systems, and they can be grown at complexity levels ranging from simple reductionist models to full organotypic tissue mimics, using primary, secondary, or stem-cell-derived sources.

Building convincing tissue mimics is hard because real tissues have defined morphology, complex protein expression patterns, and multiple interlinked functions. This review examines the critical features that determine success — the biomaterial matrix and the culture protocols capable of guiding cells toward the correct phenotype.

Key Discoveries

  • Reviews the complexity spectrum from reductionist cultures to organotypic tissue models
  • Identifies biomaterial matrix and protocol design as the determinants of correct cell phenotype
  • Assesses primary, secondary, and stem-cell-derived sources for drug and delivery evaluation

Frequently Asked Questions

How do 3D Petri Dish® micro-molds work?Why are 3D microtissues better than traditional 2D cell cultures?

3D microtissues formed using 3D Petri Dish® micro-molds better recapitulate the complex cell-cell interactions, extracellular matrix organization, and signaling gradients found in living tissues. This leads to more physiologically relevant results compared to growing cells on flat plastic surfaces, where cells often behave differently than they do in the body.