Uses only a small number of potentially costly cells per data point |
Small size of multicellular aggregates |
Methods like protein chemistry and RNA extraction need pooling of spheroids |
No interference of scaffold proteins with the development of the microtissue or the outcome of assays |
Made without additional scaffold proteins |
Some ECM factors could improve survival and self-organization of the tissue |
Spheroid is quickly formed and ready for drug treatment and analysis |
Assembles spontaneously by gravity or on non-adhesive surface |
Little control over the distribution of cell types or overall shape, may result in multiple spheroids |
Manipulation by pipetting and sedimentation, no touching |
Spheroids are floating in culture |
Spheroids may get lost or stuck on surfaces in pipetting steps |
Mimics thicker tissues (and tumors) |
Larger spheroids develop zones of o2, PH, metabolites |
Reduced viability, variable results, limited diffusion |
Motion activity and calcium cycling correlates with cell viability and drug treatment |
Show long-term spontaneous contractions |
No direct force measurement, non-linear cell alignment |
Miniaturized multi-well formats and compatible with plate readers |
Spheroids can be cultured in single wells |
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Advantage |
Features of scaffold-based models (EHT) |
Disadvantage |
Shape can be tailored for applications (screening, maturation, regen. Medicine) |
Shape is determined by the scaffold/hydrogel mold |
Uses large number of cells per tissue |
Hydrogel can be adapted for organotypic functions and pathologies (vascularization, stiffness) |
Made with scaffold biomaterial and ECM proteins |
Limited diffusion, risk of breaking, unequal distribution of cells, potential interference with assays |
Sensors can be integrated in microphysiological devices |
Tissues attached to support structures |
Manual steps necessary, small number of tissues of the same batch of cells |
Mech. And electrical training, physiological function in disease models, force assessment |
Linear alignment of muscle cells |
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Technology development toward tissue engineering applications |
Training protocols show improved maturation of hiPSC-CM |
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