In vitro testing of anticancer nanotherapeutics using tumor spheroids

Abstract

Tumor cells grown as spheroids more closely resemble in vivo solid tumors and present physical and physiological barriers to drug action that conventional monolayer cell cultures do not. The physiological relevance of the model can be further increased by incorporating fluid flow and multiple cell types. The protocols described in this chapter use simple and easily available equipment to reproducibly generate spheroid models that can be used for the in vitro testing of a variety of preparations.