Tumour cell and tissue culture
AssigneeCapsant Neurotechnologies S.A.
InventorsLars Sundstrom, Thelma Biggs, Janet Foreman
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Abstract
The present invention relates to in vitro three-dimensional organotypic cell co-culture. Cultures of the invention comprise tumour cells three-dimensionally disposed within a matrix of matrix cells which are distinct from the tumour cells, wherein the co-culture does not comprise a basement membrane. The cultures are useful for the study of cancers, for testing anti-tumour agent efficacy, and for high-throughput screening of candidate drugs.
Claims35
-36. (canceled)
An in vitro three-dimensional organotypic cell co-culture comprising tumour cells three-dimensionally disposed within a matrix of matrix cells which are distinct from the tumour cells, wherein the co-culture does not comprise a basement membrane.
A method of preparing a three-dimensional organotypic cell co-culture comprising the steps of
- a) providing a first cell suspension comprising tumour cells and a second cell suspension comprising matrix cells which are distinct from the tumour cells;
- b) combining the first and second cell suspensions to provide mixed cells suspended in a liquid suspension medium;
- c) concentrating and/or compacting the mixed cells;
- d) incubating the mixed cells obtained from step (c) on a first surface of a semi-permeable support facing a gaseous phase, wherein during the incubation a second surface of the support faces and is in contact with a liquid culture medium, and wherein the liquid is retained in contact with the support and the mixed cells by virtue of surface tension and/or capillary action.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.