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Updated: Nov 22, 2025
IDG-SW3 Cell Culture in a Three-Dimensional Extracellular Matrix
Published on: November 13, 2023
Direct comparison of 3D and 2D cultivation reveals higher osteogenic capacity of elderly osteoblasts in 3D
Stephan Payr1,2, Elizabeth Rosado-Balmayor3,4, Thomas Tiefenboeck5
1Department of Experimental Trauma Surgery, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany. stephan.payr@meduniwien.ac.at.
Background:
The aim of this study was the investigation of the osteogenic potential of human osteoblasts of advanced donor age in 2D and 3D culture.
Methods:
Osteoblasts were induced to osteogenic differentiation and cultivated, using the same polystyrene material in 2D and 3D culture for 2 weeks. Samples were taken to evaluate alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, mineralization and gene expression.
Results:
Osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels were significantly increased (8.2-fold) on day 7 in 3D compared to day 0 (p < 0.0001) and 11.6-fold higher in 3D than in 2D (p < 0.0001). Both culture systems showed reduced osteocalcin (OC) levels (2D 85% and 3D 50% of basic value). Collagen type 1 (Col1) expression was elevated in 3D on day 7 (1.4-fold; p = 0.009). Osteopontin (OP) expression showed 6.5-fold higher levels on day 7 (p = 0.002) in 3D than in 2D. Mineralization was significantly higher in 3D on day 14 (p = 0.0002).
Conclusion:
Advanced donor age human primary osteoblasts reveal significantly higher gene expression levels of OPG, Col1 and OP in 3D than in monolayer. Therefore, it seems that a relatively high potential of bone formation in a natural 3D arrangement is presumably still present in osteoblasts of elderly people.
Trial Registration:
5217/11 on the 22nd of Dec. 2011.
