3D Sponge-Matrix Histoculture

Robert M. Hoffman

Three-dimensional cell culture and tissue culture (histoculture) is much more in vivo-like than 2D culture on plastic. Three-dimensional culture allows investigation of crucial events in tumor biology such as drug response, proliferation and cell cycle progression, cancer cell migration, invasion, metastasis, immune response, and antigen expression that mimic in vivo conditions. Three-dimensional sponge-matrix histoculture maintains the in vivo phenotype, including the formation of differentiated structures of normal and malignant tissues, perhaps due to cells maintaining their natural shape in a sponge-gel matrix such as Gelfoam®. Sponge-matrix histoculture can also support normal tissues and their function including antibody-producing lymphoid tissue that allows efficient HIV infection, hair-growing skin, excised hair follicles that grow hair, pluripotent stem cells that form nerves, and much more.