Method for the culturing of cells

A method for culturing cells in a substrate, the method comprising:

• introducing cells into a chamber of the substrate, the substrate having a microfluidic structure and comprising a first microfluidic channel and a second microfluidic channel connected to the chamber, the chamber having at least one side wall, a continuous planar bottom, and a top, wherein the top covers the chamber;
• tilting the substrate to a tilted orientation such that the cells accumulate in an arrangement on a side wall of the chamber;
• holding the substrate in the tilted orientation so that the cells form a three-dimensional cell aggregate, such that the cells grow together approximately in the arrangement in which they have accumulated on the side wall of the chamber;
• tilting the substrate back to a non-tilted orientation following formation of the three-dimensional cell aggregate;
• and
• perfusing the three-dimensional cell aggregate in the chamber by transporting liquid into and/or out of the chamber via the first microfluidic channel and/or the second microfluidic channel.