In-vitro experiments, utilizing cell cultures in controlled laboratory settings, have become a cornerstone for molecular biology research. While they can’t replicate the intricate processes of the human body, they present a more cost-effective and manageable alternative to in-vivo studies, which explore living organisms. Their value is especially pronounced in drug discovery and high throughput screening, offering biologically relevant predictions on drug effects. Furthermore, in-vitro experiments have shed light on biological targets and pathways across diverse research domains. We employ a versatile range of in-vitro cell culture models, including cancerous and immortalized cell lines, primary cells, co-cultures, and advanced 3-dimensional models.
2D cell monolayer cultures and suspension cells
In the realm of drug screening and biological assays, traditional 2D cell monolayer cultures have secured their position as the gold standard. These cell lines are indispensable during the initial stages of drug discovery, serving as useful proxies for human or animal biology within in vitro settings. Their utility is derived from their capacity to emulate health and disease states authentically.
Key advantages of using cell lines:
- Standardized & Reliable: Offers a consistent material source, ensuring reproducibility across studies.
- Cost-Effective & Efficient: Easier to handle and maintain than primary cells.
- Ethical Considerations: Bypasses the dilemmas associated with using human and animal tissues directly.
- Consistency & Reproducibility: Cell lines provide genetically identical cells, ensuring consistent and reproducible results.
- Cost-effective & Scalable: They are more affordable than primary cells and can be scaled up easily for high-throughput experiments.
- Endless Supply: Immortalized cell lines can be cultured indefinitely, guaranteeing a constant material source.
- Ethical Benefits: Using cell lines can reduce the reliance on animal testing, addressing significant ethical concerns.
- Well-characterized Profiles: Many cell lines have extensively documented genetic and biological profiles, facilitating predictable outcomes in research.
At our facility, we not only harness a broad spectrum of these cell lines—including adherent and suspension cancer lines and renowned immortalized cell lines from repositories such as ATTC and ECACC—but we also guide our clients in selecting the ideal cell line model tailored to their specific research needs, be it targeting certain protein expressions or preserving intact signaling pathways.
Primary cells
Primary cells offer an unparalleled glimpse into natural biological processes. Directly isolated from human or animal tissues, they capture the genuine physiological essence of the originating tissue, setting them apart from traditional cell lines. Their derivation, whether from a healthy or diseased source, caters specifically to diverse research objectives. Whether it’s the hepatocytes’ pivotal role in drug metabolism assessments or the genuine depiction of a tumor environment by patient-derived cancer cells, primary cells provide the authenticity that many scientific inquiries demand.
Key Advantages of using primary cells:
- Physiological Relevance: They closely mimic in vivo conditions, offering more accurate biological responses.
- Diverse Source Options: Can be derived from various tissues, and from both healthy and diseased donors, offering a wide spectrum for research.
- Reduced Genetic Drift: Unlike cell lines, primary cells have limited passages, preserving their genetic and phenotypic profiles.
- Specific Disease Modeling: Diseased primary cells can provide insights into disease progression and potential therapeutic interventions.
- Rich in Cellular Heterogeneity: They offer a diverse cell population, reflecting the in vivo cellular environment, beneficial for studies requiring cellular interactions
We utilize established methodologies to prepare primary cell populations from various sources, such as tumor and skin biopsies, along with murine and canine materials. We’re equipped to provide primary cell preparations sourced from both healthy and diseased individuals. Our team is well-versed in handling these diverse cell types, and our aim is to assist in obtaining reliable and consistent results for your research.
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs)
Human PBMCs stand as an integral component of our multifaceted immune system, with the majority being lymphocytes—comprising T cells, B cells, and NK cells. These cells, sourced from both healthy individuals and those with diverse ailments, offer a rich avenue for investigating both standard and aberrant human immune functions. Notably, PBMC-based studies have been pivotal in drug discovery, diagnostic innovations, cancer research, and the exploration of inflammatory diseases. Their significance only grows when considering their role in disease modeling and toxicity assessments ahead of clinical trials.
Key Advantages of using PBMCs:
- Physiologically Relevant: PBMCs closely mimic human in vivo conditions, enhancing the translational potential of research findings.
- Diverse Cell Types: With a mix of T cells, B cells, NK cells, and monocytes, PBMCs offer a holistic view of immune responses.
- Disease-Specific Insights: Available from both healthy and diseased donors, PBMCs enable targeted therapeutic research.
- Adaptable to Assays: Suitable for a range of assays, from cytotoxicity tests to migration studies, meeting diverse research requirements.
- Predictive Clinical Value: Their close representation of in vivo conditions makes PBMC-based studies more predictive of clinical outcomes.
- Ethical Collection: Minimally invasive collection methods, such as blood draws, minimize ethical concerns.
We collaborate with trusted suppliers for PBMC acquisition and also perform cell isolations from whole blood directly in our lab to harnessing the potential of PBMCs not only in drug discovery and diagnostic advancements but also in crucial areas like cancer research and inflammatory disease explorations.
Co-cultures
Exploring the complexity of cellular interactions, co-cultures serve as an advanced in-vitro model that allows for the simultaneous culture of two or more distinct cell types. These interactions often bring out responses and behaviors that are typically unseen in monocultures, granting researchers a more dynamic and realistic perspective of cell-cell communication, signaling, and microenvironment impact.
Key Advantages of using Co-cultures:
- Enhanced Biological Relevance: Mimicking the intricate cell-to-cell interactions seen in vivo, co-cultures can replicate physiological or pathological scenarios more authentically.
- Microenvironment Modeling: By integrating different cell types, co-cultures can recreate tissue-specific microenvironments, thereby offering insights into how cells behave within these specialized contexts.
- Synergistic Interactions: Co-cultures allow researchers to observe synergistic or antagonistic interactions between cell types, which can be pivotal for understanding disease mechanisms or potential therapeutic responses.
- Customizability: Depending on the research aim, various cell types can be paired in co-culture to address specific questions or hypotheses.
- Reduced Artifacts: As co-cultures can better replicate in vivo conditions, they tend to produce fewer artifacts compared to isolated monocultures, leading to more reliable data interpretations.
We possess the expertise and the means to establish various co-culture systems, whether it’s integrating tumor cells with stromal cells, endothelial cells with pericytes, or neurons with glial cells. Our team is equipped to design, optimize, and execute co-culture experiments tailored to the unique requirements, ensuring the generation of meaningful, actionable data for their research endeavors.
3-dimensional cell cultures
Venturing into the third dimension of cellular environments, 3-dimensional cell culture models, such as spheroids and tissue constructs, more closely mimic the complex architecture of real tissue and have been shown to better replicate in vivo biological processes. Unlike traditional 2D monolayers, 3D models encapsulate cells within a matrix or scaffold, promoting multi-directional growth and interactions, making them a more physiologically relevant platform for in-vitro studies. These models are useful for studying drug responses, tissue development, and disease processes and can provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of drug action and disease progression.
Key Advantages of 3-dimesional cell cultures
- Heightened Biological Accuracy: By replicating the intricate 3D architecture of tissues, these models capture cellular behaviors, signaling pathways, and responses that are closer to in vivo scenarios.
- Complex Tumor Microenvironment Modeling: Especially vital for cancer research, 3D models can recreate the tumor microenvironment, allowing for a better understanding of cancer cell proliferation, migration, and drug resistance.
- Enhanced Cell-to-Cell and Cell-to-Matrix Interactions: The spatial arrangement allows cells to interact with their neighbors and their surrounding matrix in a manner that more closely mimics natural tissues.
- Improved Drug Penetration Insights: 3D models can provide insights into how drugs diffuse through tissues, offering a more realistic assessment of drug delivery and efficacy.
- Versatility: These models can be adapted for various cell types and research needs, from organoids that replicate specific organ structures to spheroids used in tumor studies.