Development of 3-D Microbioreactor Systems for Cell-Based High Throughput Screening

The study developed a 40 micro-well plate bioreactor (40-MBR) system for 3-D cell cultures to enhance drug screening efficiency and reduce animal testing. This system allowed real-time monitoring of cell proliferation, pH, and dissolved oxygen, providing more reliable data than traditional 384-well plates. It was tested with colon cancer cells and potential cancer drugs, showing promise for early-stage drug discovery. Additionally, a novel high-throughput embryotoxicity assay using embryonic stem cells was developed, utilizing survivin expression as a marker, and tested with various chemicals and Chinese herbal medicines. The study also explored the use of carbon nanotubes in 3-D cultures to promote neuronal differentiation, demonstrating enhanced cellular functions and more representative drug responses compared to uncoated matrices.