Summary
Published in Scientific Reports (2018), this peer-reviewed study used 3D Petri Dish® micro-molds to form scaffold-free 3D microtissues. Full citation: Bauman, E., et al. Xeno-free pre-vascularized spheroids for therapeutic applications
Xeno-free pre-vascularized spheroids for therapeutic applications
Research Overview
Spheroids may outperform single-cell suspensions in cell-based therapy, but most spheroid growth media contain animal-derived components such as fetal bovine serum — a safety, economic, and ethical liability for clinical translation.
This study developed a xeno-free formulation based on SCC, a novel industrial cell culture supplement derived from well-controlled pooled human plasma and processed under good manufacturing practice rules, for both 2D expansion and prevascularized spheroid culture — removing animal components from the therapeutic spheroid pipeline.
Key Discoveries
- Xeno-free formulation replaced fetal bovine serum using GMP human plasma-derived supplement
- Applied to both 2D expansion and prevascularized spheroid culture
- Removes safety, economic, and ethical barriers to clinical cell therapy translation
