BioTek July 2019 - 10

Imaging assays for 3D
spheroid proliferation
Another quickly growing technique is the use of
3-dimensional (3D) spheroids, a cell culture model
system in which cells aggregate at the bottom of
individual wells, unattached to the plate surface.
This experimental system is valuable for studying
cell proliferation because it's thought to provide a
more physiologically relevant environment, closely
resembling cells' extracellular milieu in vivo.
To supply 3D spheroids with healthy conditions over
extended culture periods, spent media must be removed and fresh media added regularly. However,
such physical disturbance can pose a problem if
it disrupts the spheroids; media exchange must
occur extremely slowly, and the pipette tips must
be kept far from the spheroids to avoid damaging or aspirating them. BioTek's AMX (Automated

Figure 3. NIH3T3, HeLa, and HCT116 cell proliferation profiles enable quantitative
analysis of drug response. Cell counts per mm2 were calculated every 2 hours for
5 days or until cells reached full confluence. Profiles from 5 drug concentrations
demonstrate a cell type-dependent differential dose response.

Figure 4. Measuring dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation by

Figure 5. (A) AMX Media Exchange Module aspirate tip positioning. (B)

doxorubicin. AUC of cell count per mm2 proliferation profiles were used to

Illustrating intact spheroids in residual media using 96-well plates and (C)

calculate IC50 values.

384-well plates.

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https://www.biotek.com/assets/tech_resources/AMX%20App%20Note_FINAL.pdf

BioTek July 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of BioTek July 2019