Summary
Published in STAR Protocols (2024), this peer-reviewed study used 3D Petri Dish® micro-molds to form scaffold-free 3D microtissues. Full citation: Haspels, Ben, et al. Protocol for formation, staining, and imaging of 3D breast cancer models using MicroTissues mold systems
Protocol for formation, staining, and imaging of 3D breast cancer models using MicroTissues mold systems
Research Overview
This protocol paper provides an end-to-end workflow for 3D breast cancer models built with MicroTissues® mold systems. It covers cast formation, forming both spheroids and rod-shaped microtissues, and treating those models with DNA-damaging agents.
It then details analysis: harvesting the 3D models, whole-mount immunostaining, and confocal imaging of fixed samples or live-cell reporters. The result is a reproducible recipe for studying therapy response in 3D rather than 2D — including the rod geometry, which is less commonly documented than spheroids.
Key Discoveries
- Complete protocol for spheroid and rod-shaped breast cancer microtissue formation
- Includes treatment with DNA-damaging agents for therapy-response studies
- Details whole-mount immunostaining and confocal imaging of live and fixed 3D models
