Summary
Published in Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology (2025), this peer-reviewed study used 3D Petri Dish® micro-molds to form scaffold-free 3D microtissues. Full citation: Cybulski, Pierre, et al. Nanoparticle accumulation and penetration in 3D tumor models: the effect of size, shape, and surface charge
Nanoparticle accumulation and penetration in 3D tumor models: the effect of size, shape, and surface charge
Research Overview
Nanoparticles can improve cancer therapy while reducing side effects, but in solid tumors they often fail to accumulate or penetrate. How size, shape, and surface charge govern their interaction with tumor cells is key to better design, yet reported behavior has been inconsistent.
This study systematically compared nanoparticle uptake in 2D and 3D tumor models and penetration into spheroids. Larger particles were internalized more in 2D but penetrated 3D spheroids poorly, while negatively charged particles consistently achieved superior accumulation and deeper penetration than their counterparts — findings that only emerged by testing in three dimensions.
Key Discoveries
- Larger nanoparticles showed higher uptake in 2D monolayers but limited penetration into 3D spheroids
- Negatively charged nanoparticles consistently accumulated more and penetrated deeper
- 2D uptake results did not predict 3D penetration, underscoring the need for spheroid testing
