Quantitative Analysis of 3D Microtissue Growth and Biomarker Intensity

In vivo cells form three-dimensional (3D) microenvironments through cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions to create complex tissues and perform higher level functions. Biochemical signals and nutrient gradients are essential for tissue functioning and therefore also physiological cell behavior. Conventional two-dimensional cell culture does not provide such a complex microenvironment and consequently cells can lose some of their physiological properties (Pamploni et al., 2007). 3D cell culture methods are now widely accepted as being more physiologically relevant and are believed to improve prediction of drug candidates at an earlier stage of the development process (Fayad et al., 2011, Hirschaeuser et al., 2010).