Key industry publications and methods

There is a diverse range of protocols available in the literature around 3D cell culture and analysis. Discover those highlighted here to learn how researchers use Invitrogen and Gibco products in their methods.

NEWOverview of the cell lines, culture conditions, and analysis techniques that are being used in the transition from 2D to 3D cell models in the 3D Cell Culture & Analysis Handbook.

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NEWHave fun with mazes, lab awards, a word search, and more in the 3D Cell Culture & Analysis Activity Booklet.

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FREE 3D Cell Culture eLearning Courses

We are now offering free e-Learns to share our expertise and assist with advancing your research. Follow the links below and start your free learning adventure in the basics of 3D cell culture and then progress to our neural organoid training course.

Getting started in 3D cell culture
Neural organoid generation from PSCs

Brain

Brain

Cell typeRelevant growth factorsRelevant mediaKey publication
Pluripotent stem cellsFGF2DMEM/F12, NeurobasalLancaster, M.A., et al. Nature. 2013 
Pluripotent stem cellsFGF2, EGF, BDNF, NT-3DMEM/F12, NeurobasalPasca, A.M. et al. Nature Methods. 2015 
Pluripotent stem cellsDKK1DMEM/F12Phillips, A.W., et al. J. Vis. Exp. 2017 
Pluripotent stem cellsDKK1, BMPR1a-FcDMEM/F12, NeurobasalMariani, J., et al. PNAS. 2012 
Pluripotent stem cellsN/ADMEM/F12, NeurobasalIefremova, V., et al., Cell Reports. 2017 
Pluripotent stem cellsBDNF, GDNF, NT-3, Laminin, bFGFDMEM/F12, Essential 8, Essential 6, NeurobasalZhou, T., et al., Cell Stem Cell. 2017 
Liver

Liver

Cell typeRelevant growth factorsRelevant mediaKey publication
Adult tissue stem/progenitor cellsFGF10, HGF, EGF, NogginAdvanced DMEM/F12Huch, M., et al. Nature. 2013 
Adult tissue stem/progenitor cellsEGF, FGF10, HGF, Noggin, BMP7, FGF19Advanced DMEM/F12Huch, M., et al. Cell 2015 
Pluripotent stem cellsBMP4, VEGF, Activin, PDGFBB, FGF2RPMI1640, DMEM/F12, StemPro-34 SFMTakebe, T., et al. Cell Reports. 2017 
Pluripotent stem cellsFGF2, BMP4, Activin, HGF, EGFRPMI1640Takebe, T., et al. Nature. 2013 
Primary cellsN/AHepaRG mediaProctor, W.R., et al. Arch. Toxicol. 2017 
Intestine

Intestine

Cell typeRelevant growth factorsRelevant mediaKey publication
Adult tissue stem/progenitor cellsNoggin, EGF, FGF10DMEM, Advanced DMEM/F12Sato, T, et al., Gastroenterology. 2011 
Adult tissue stem/progenitor cellsEGF, NogginAdvanced DMEM/F12Sato, T., et al., Nature, 2009 
Pluripotent stem cellsActivin, FGF4, BMP2, EGF, Noggin, SHHN/AMunera, J.O., et al., Cell Stem Cell. 2017 
Pluripotent stem cellsActivin, FGF4, Noggin, EGFDMEM/F12, RPMI1640, Advanced DMEM/F12Spence, J.R., et al., Nature. 2011 
Pluripotent stem cellsIGF1, FGF2Knockout DMEMUchida, H., et al., JCI Insight. 2016 
Pluripotent stem cellsActivin, FGF4, EGF, NogginRPMI1640, Advanced DMEM/F12Watson, C.L., et al., Nature Medicine. 2014 
Kidney

Kidney

Cell typeRelevant growth factorsRelevant mediaKey publication
Pluripotent stem cells
FGF2, Noggin, Activin, FGF9Advanced RPMI1640Morizane, R., et al., Nature Biotechnology. 2015 
Pluripotent stem cells
FGF2, Noggin, Activin, FGF9Advanced RPMI1640Freedman, B.S., et al., Nature Communications. 2015 
Pluripotent stem cellsFGF2, BMP4, Activin, BMP7, FGF9DMEM/F12Takasato, M., et al., Nautre. 2014 
Fetal tissue-derived cellsBMP7, FGF2, LIFDMEM/F12Li, Z., et al., Cell Stem Cell. 2016 
Lung

Lung

Cell typeRelevant growth factorsRelevant mediaKey publication
Pluripotent stem cellsActivin, FGF4, FGF2, Noggin, SHHRPMI1640, Advanced DMEM/F12Dye, BR., et al., Elife. 2015 
Pluripotent stem cellsFGF2Advanced DMEM/F12Wilkinson, DC., et al., Stem Cells Translational Medicine. 2016 

Protocols for spheroid generation

To help guide you in your 3D cell culture, our R&D teams have developed suggested protocols for the generation of spheroids from the most commonly used cancer cell lines using Nunclon Sphera cell culture plastics and Gibco media.

Protocols for matrix-based 3D cell culture

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.