Objective

We will present a simple yet very usable 3-dimensional approach to cell culture using electrospun material manufactured into micro “sponges” (micro-scaffolds) ranging in size from 100uM to 1000uM. Uniquely, this material has a number of properties that make it highly amenable to manipulation for cell culture and screening purposes: Firstly, micro-scaffold are small, so can be pipetted using current liquid handling technologies. Secondly, they are attracted to magnetic forces, so can be manipulated in both tubes and plates using magnetism. Thirdly, they can be labeled with fluorescence dyes for imaging and barcoding purposes allowing for multiplexing within the same well. Micro-scaffolds can be used to culture a number of cells types within a number of assay formats including luminescence, fluorescence, imaging and protein secretion assays. We will present data generated using recombinant and primary cells cultured using the material and demonstrate the following procedures: Firstly transient transfection of cells on scaffolds. Secondly cryo-preservation of cells on scaffolds. Thirdly high content imaging of cells on scaffolds. Our goals are to utilize this material to produce efficiency savings in cell culture and gain significant improvement in assay biology by generating more physiological cell environments using micro-scaffolds in well plates.