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An Innovative 3D-Printed Insert Designed to Enable Straightforward 2D and 3D Cell Cultures
Published on: January 6, 2023
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3D-printed insert-array and 3D-coculture-array for high-throughput screening of cell migration and application to
Brian E Grottkau1, Zhixin Hui1, Chuan Ye1,2
1The Laboratory for Therapeutic 3D Bioprinting, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, United States of America.
Biomedical Materials (Bristol, England)
|June 3, 2020
Summary
This study introduces novel 3D-printed arrays for high-throughput collective cell migration studies. The new platform efficiently analyzes molecular and cellular influences on cell movement, offering a versatile research tool.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biotechnology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Collective cell migration is crucial for development and disease, involving cell-cell and cell-environment interactions.
- Existing methods for studying collective cell migration are often destructive or lack liquid handling convenience.
- High-throughput analysis is needed to efficiently investigate the complex factors influencing collective cell migration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel 3D-printed insert-array and coculture-array for high-throughput collective cell migration studies.
- To investigate the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) on endothelial cell migration.
- To establish a cost-effective and efficient platform for analyzing molecular and cellular influences on collective cell migration.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a 96-well insert-array using 3D printing, ensuring high manufacturing tolerance and watertight seals.
- Utilizing the insert-array to create cell-free areas for studying human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) migration under varying VEGF and bFGF concentrations.
- Employing a 3D-coculture-array to assess the impact of hMSCs on HUVEC migration and investigate the role of VEGF in cell-cell communication.
Main Results:
- HUVEC migration showed a dose-dependent response to VEGF and bFGF, with synergistic pro-migration effects.
- Coculture with hMSCs significantly increased HUVEC migration rates, dependent on hMSC number.
- VEGF inhibition partially blocked the pro-migration effects, indicating VEGF's key role in hMSC-mediated migration.
- The 3D-coculture-array demonstrated high biomolecule transport efficiency and a Z-factor of 0.66, confirming its suitability for high-throughput assays.
Conclusions:
- The novel 3D-printed insert-array and coculture-array offer a versatile and high-throughput platform for studying collective cell migration.
- This system enables efficient analysis of molecular and cellular factors influencing collective cell migration.
- The developed arrays provide a cost-effective alternative to existing methods, facilitating broader research in cell biology and pathology.
