Do cells seeded in 3D gel get enough nutrients?

If the cells are embedded in hydrogel (e.g., collagen, Matrigel, etc.) in an ibidi µ-Slide or µ-Dish, the nutrient supply will not be affected. These hydrogel types are commonly used in cell culture, and because they do not create a diffusion barrier, nutrients can freely spread into the gel. However, there are other gels types not generally used for cell culture, and their density can hinder diffusion.

In static cultures using the ibidi µ-Slide Angiogenesis, for example, media should be changed at the same frequency whether or not hydrogel is used. If the cells are embedded under flow, as when using the ibidi µ-Slide I Luer 3D, the nutrient supply will not be affected. When growing a layer of endothelial cells on top of the gel, the media supply should also not be affected, since endothelial cells are designed to allow diffusion of nutrients across the barrier that they create. However, when working with cells that have a high metabolic rate, such as cancer cells, or if too many cells are seeded into the gel, the nutrient supply might not be sufficient. In these cases, we suggest checking the viability of the cells with live/dead staining.

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