A novel solution for analyzing 3D cell cultures, based on Tecan’s Infinite^® M200 PRO and InSphero’s 3D InSight™ microtissue technology, is helping to reduce the cost of early phase drug development.

Dr Jens M Kelm, Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of InSphero, explained: “Although classical 2D cell culture techniques are still widely used throughout the pharmaceutical industry, their limitations are becoming increasingly apparent. The efficacy of a candidate drug depends on a number of factors, including the physical and chemical environments in vivo, drug penetration and clearance rates. 2D cell cultures do not accurately reflect how all of these factors will affect drug behavior in vivo; 3D cell culturing techniques offer greater biological relevance for drug screening.”

“The GravityTRAP™ plate allows straightforward use of hanging drop cultures into ANSI/SLAS format microplates, permitting the use of automated liquid handling systems and standard format microplate readers, such as the Infinite M200 PRO multimode reader. This instrument’s bottom reading optics are a good match for the conical well design of the plate – allowing the entire well to be scanned at once, without the need for multiple acquisitions at different points across each well – and the system’s multiple reading modes provide a lot of flexibility in terms of the assay reporter mechanisms which can be employed,” concluded Dr Kelm.

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