What are the differences between 2D and 3D cell cultures?

Question

Accepted Answer

2D and 3D cell cultures are indispensable tools in areas of developmental biology, regenerative medicine, protein production, and clinical in vitro research studies. There are several key differences between the two.

Basic of comparison
2D Cell Culture
3D Cell Culture

Definition
Is a culture environment in which cells are grown on flat dishes with coated surfaces to help them adhere and proliferate
Is a culture environment that allows cells to grow and interact with surrounding extracellular framework in three dimensions

Resemblance to environment in vivo
Not representative of real cell environments in vivo
More accurate representation of human tissue outside the body

Cell shape
Flat and stretched
Natural ellipsoid shape of cell is retained

Exposure of cell interface to medium
All cells are equally exposed to components of the medium
Cells are heterogeneously exposed to media components just as in physiological conditions, with the upper layer of the cell receiving higher exposure than the lower layer

Cell differentiation
Moderately to poorly differentiated
Well differentiated

Drug sensitivity
Cells are more sensitive and drugs show higher efficacy
Cells often show resistance and drugs show lower potency

Susceptibility to drug-induced apoptosis
Highly susceptible to drug-induced apoptotic stimuli
Enhanced resistance to drug-induced apoptotic stimuli

Advantages
Well established and fast; Inexpensive, easy and convenient to set up; Ealier cell observation and meaurement; Effective for primary assessment; Plenty of reference material available to compare results, high throughput capacity; easier environmental control, cell observation, measurement
More representative of real cell environmnet; Able to exhibit differentiated cellular function; Can better simulate microenvironment conditions in a living organism so cells and organs grow in a more realistic manner; Possible to co-culture 2 or more different cell types; Representation of barrier tissues is greatly enhanced; More realistic way to grow and treat tumor cells; Can better predict in vivo responses to drug treatments

Limitations
Not representative of real cell environment; Possible contamination of growth media by expansion of cells; In Vivo responses to drug treatment are not always predictable
expensive; Some types of measurements and microscopic analyses can be challenging because of the larger size of 3D cell cultures; Distributing oxygen and essential nutrients can be a challenge in larger cultures; Relatively lower throughput capacity

Although establishing a 3D culture is more expensive and more laborious as compared to establishing a 2D culture, it is the preferred technique because it more closely represents human tissue outside the body.

Basic of comparison	2D Cell Culture	3D Cell Culture
Definition	Is a culture environment in which cells are grown on flat dishes with coated surfaces to help them adhere and proliferate	Is a culture environment that allows cells to grow and interact with surrounding extracellular framework in three dimensions
Resemblance to environment in vivo	Not representative of real cell environments in vivo	More accurate representation of human tissue outside the body
Cell shape	Flat and stretched	Natural ellipsoid shape of cell is retained
Exposure of cell interface to medium	All cells are equally exposed to components of the medium	Cells are heterogeneously exposed to media components just as in physiological conditions, with the upper layer of the cell receiving higher exposure than the lower layer
Cell differentiation	Moderately to poorly differentiated	Well differentiated
Drug sensitivity	Cells are more sensitive and drugs show higher efficacy	Cells often show resistance and drugs show lower potency
Susceptibility to drug-induced apoptosis	Highly susceptible to drug-induced apoptotic stimuli	Enhanced resistance to drug-induced apoptotic stimuli
Advantages	Well established and fast; Inexpensive, easy and convenient to set up; Ealier cell observation and meaurement; Effective for primary assessment; Plenty of reference material available to compare results, high throughput capacity; easier environmental control, cell observation, measurement	More representative of real cell environmnet; Able to exhibit differentiated cellular function; Can better simulate microenvironment conditions in a living organism so cells and organs grow in a more realistic manner; Possible to co-culture 2 or more different cell types; Representation of barrier tissues is greatly enhanced; More realistic way to grow and treat tumor cells; Can better predict in vivo responses to drug treatments
Limitations	Not representative of real cell environment; Possible contamination of growth media by expansion of cells; In Vivo responses to drug treatment are not always predictable	expensive; Some types of measurements and microscopic analyses can be challenging because of the larger size of 3D cell cultures; Distributing oxygen and essential nutrients can be a challenge in larger cultures; Relatively lower throughput capacity

What are the differences between 2D and 3D cell cultures?

Posted January 28, 2022