Cell-Based Sensing: From 2D to 3D Cell Culture

Abstract

Cell-based biosensors use living cells or tissues as sensing element to monitor physiological and functional changes induced by external stimuli. Adoption of 3D cell cultures to cell-based biosensors is anticipated to provide more predictive results for in vivo tests, as 3D cultures resemble closer to in vivo conditions than traditional 2D monolayer culture. This study focused on the characterization of 3D cell cultures for their use as sensing elements in cell-based biosensors. We established the conditions for growing cancer cells into 3D spheroids on matrices using oral cancer cell line, CAL 27. We systematically investigated the cellular responses from the 3D culture to anticancer drugs with different action mechanisms and compared to those of traditional 2D culture. The difference in expression of drug-action related protein biomarkers in 3D and 2D cultures was also examined.