The secret to choosing the right ECM:

For decades, mammalian cell culture meant growing monolayers of cells in a dish. While these 2D cell culture models have provided remarkable insight into the function and dysfunction of a stunning array of cell types, the limitations of 2D cell culture have become obvious. In living organisms, cells interact with a 3D environment that includes other cells and cell types, the extracellular matrix (ECM), and a complex cellular microenvironment.

These 3D interactions are essential to understanding the function of healthy organs and the dysfunction of disease states. Our past reliance on 2D cell culture and animal models hindered our ability to understand complex human disorders and find effective treatments.

This new whitepaper explores:

• An array of examples of 3D cell culture models that build upon advances in stem cell biology
• Recreating aspects of in vivo tissues in an in vitro culture with spheroids, organoids and bioprinted tissues
• The significant differences between spheroids, organoids and tissue models that make them suitable for different applications