Endothelial Cells: Co-culture Spheroids

Abstract

The development and maintenance of a functioning vascular system is a critical function for many aspects of tissue growth and regeneration. Vascular endothelial cell in vitro co-culture spheroids are self-organized cell composites that have the capacity to recapitulate the three-dimensional tissue microenvironment. These spheroid testing platforms aim to better understand the mechanisms of functional tissue and how new therapeutic agents can drive these 3D co-culture processes. Here we describe direct cell–cell 3D endothelial co-culture spheroid methods, to examine the physiological spatial growth and cell–cell interaction of vascular cells and surrounding native tissue cells in the formation of vascular networks within spheroids and the potential to regenerate tissue.