In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the use of 3D cell culture models for drug discovery and development. These models have been shown to provide more relevant in vitro data compared to traditional 2D models, making them an attractive option for pharmaceutical companies looking to accelerate the drug discovery process. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of 3D cell culture models in drug discovery and how they can provide more relevant in vitro data compared to traditional 2D models. We will highlight Visikol’s expertise in developing 3D cell culture models for drug screening and demonstrate how their High Content Screening services can help maximize in vitro relevancy. We will also discuss the benefits of using automation and robotics to accelerate the screening process while maintaining accuracy and reliability.
What Is High Content Screening?
High Content Screening (HCS) is a method of drug screening that allows for the assessment of multiple endpoints simultaneously at a cellular resolution, providing richer datasets than traditional assays. HCS utilizes High Content Imaging to interrogate and quantify cellular response to treatments, stimuli, or alterations in protein expression. The use of imaging-based endpoints allows for examination of the specific effect of compound treatments on specific sub-populations of cells, as well as providing access to more complex measurements than can be accomplished with traditional assay formats.
Why 3D Cell Culture Models?
3D cell culture models offer a more natural, tissue-mimicking method of cell growth for drug discovery applications compared to traditional 2D models. Cells grown as 3D models are more analogous to their existence in vivo, and may be co-cultured with other cells and cellular components that occur in their microenvironment to better recapitulate the disease. The technique in which cells are cultured (2D vs. 3D) can substantially alter the drug’s effect on the cells, and there are many examples in the literature
regarding the substantial differences between cells cultured in 2D vs 3D format.
Visikol recognizes the importance of 3D cell culture due to improved in vivo relevancy and relatively low-cost and works closely with clients to define the appropriate model for their specific research question or screening campaign. Visikol has an expert team of cell biologists with in-house capabilities to generate any models required and partnerships with major providers of 3D models when highly sophisticated models are required. Every assay provided in a 3D model format can be applied to monolayer models, and the team can quantify nearly any target using nearly any label.
Technology and High Content Screening
Automation, computerization, and robotics are used in the drug screening process to accelerate High Content Screening, and Visikol utilizes all of these methods to produce quick project turnaround. Visikol communicates progress with clients throughout the entire assay process and offers advice in assay design to ensure the best and most successful project. Visikol uses a purpose-built image processing pipeline to quickly parse through tens of thousands of images to obtain quantitative data, extracting cell counts, morphological features, colocalization of labels, and computing statistical comparisons between groups simultaneously.
The challenges in implementing 3D cell culture models in drug screening on a large scale include the cost and throughput requirements. The accuracy and reliability of drug screening can be improved when using automation and robotics. Visikol offers small-scale proof-of-concept work for custom projects to demonstrate their expertise and build clients’ confidence in their screening campaigns.
In conclusion, 3D cell culture models offer a more relevant and tissue-mimicking method of cell growth for drug discovery applications compared to traditional 2D models. Visikol’s expertise in developing 3D cell culture models for drug screening and their High Content Screening services can help maximize in vitro relevancy. The use of automation and robotics can accelerate the screening process while maintaining accuracy and reliability. Pharmaceutical companies, pharmaceutical scientists, biochemists, medicinal chemists, pharmacologists, and toxicologists can all benefit from the use of 3D cell culture models and High Content Screening in their drug discovery and development efforts. If you’re interested in learning more, reach out to a member of out team today!