Pre-assembled Microtiter Plate with Synthetic Hydrogels

The unique 3DProSeed^® ready-to-use 96-well microtiter plate developed by Ectica Technologies contains pre-assembled synthetic hydrogels, ready for screening 3D cell culture in R&D and drug discovery programs.

Microtiter Plate with Pre-assembled Synthetic Hydrogels

The innovative pre-assembled 3DProSeed^® synthetic hydrogel well plate for ready-to-use and automation-compatible cell-based assays in 3D, is unique in its ability to incorporate the benefits of hydrogel-based cultures and the convenience of using standard polystyrene plates in the screening processes workflow.

The hydrogels are pre-assembled at the bottom of each well and are delivered hydrated in a storage buffer ready for cell seeding. The inner-well geometry is also designed to facilitate manual pipetting to increase versatility and ease of use.

The fully synthetic hydrogels, made of revolutionary poly(ethlyene glycol) (PEG)-based bioconjugates, offer the greatest degree of control over cell culture conditions and superior optical clarity for advanced microscopy. At the same time, the standard ANSI footprint 96-well plate format with glass-bottom offers the best level of automation compatibility and imaging quality.

Establish 3D hydrogel-based cell culture for drug discovery

Due to the advantage of close resemblance to human tissues and providing more physiologically meaningful and predictive data for in vivo studies, three-dimensional (3D) encapsulation of cells within hydrogels has seen a growing application in drug discovery programs. 

The novel 96-well plate containing pre-cast synthetic PEG-based hydrogels vastly simplifies the path to establish hydrogel-based 3D cell cultures. The 3DProSeed platform eliminates the need for the standard encapsulation method altogether. Instead, 3D cell cultures can be established simply by dispensing cells on top.

Sequential seeding of different cell populations

3DProSeed’s patented hydrogel surface features an in-depth density gradient that allows the dispensed seeded cells on top to enter into the bulk. This special hydrogel surface enables sequential seeding of different cell populations in the same gel to create complex co-cultures.

Compatible with high content analysers, the 3DProSeed microtiter plate is created to simplify and accelerate in vivo testing and the discovery of novel drug candidates.

Accelerating drug discovery in oncology & immuno-oncology and neurology

Ectica’s novel hydrogel-based tools are developed to accelerate drug discovery programs in the therapeutic fields of oncology, immuno-oncology and neurology.

Oncology & Immuno-Oncology

Cell-based in vitro cancer assays are a cost-effective way of determining mechanisms of action, immunoreactivity, and efficacy well before progressing to in vivo models.

Ex Vivo engineering of the tumor microenvironment

Evidently, stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment play a key part in cancer development and resistance to therapy. Ectica Technologies uses control over the endogenously secreted matrix to build an ex-vivo model of the tumor microenvironment. Tumor cells can be cultured in a pre-established stromal microenvironment made of fibroblasts, mesenchymal stromal cells, adipocytes or endothelial cells.

Various cancer cells can be added to the pre-formed stromal models as heterospheroids or sparse cells to study tumor-stroma interactions. Subsequently, PBMCs can be added for immuno-oncology killing assays.

Sequential addition of immune cells

The 3DProSeed^® microtiter plate with synthetic hydrogels enables researchers to add cancer cells sequentially and study the interaction with the microenvironment.

Via the special properties of the synthetic hydrogel surface, the 3DProSeed can perform sequential seeding of various cell populations at different time intervals of the assay and facilitate the creation of a stromal environment with controlled conditions, to which cancer cells can be subsequently added.

Neurology

Ectica Technologies has a strong focus on neuronal differentiation and glia co-cultures.

The 3DProSeed^® well plate is the perfect synthetic hydrogel-based tool to study differentiation and maturation of human neuronal progenitor cells (NPCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Ectica also provides protocols of neuronal differentiation of human embryonic neuronal progenitors and development of co-cultures with human primary astrocytes.

Culture human primary astrocytes 

Researchers have indicated that culturing primary astrocytes in a 3D hydrogel environment, helps to imitate the glial status in the undamaged nervous system, as hydrogel culture keeps astrocytes in a less reactive state. With 3DProSeed researchers can culture human astrocytes in the synthetic hydrogel plate and study their extra-cellular matrix protein deposition.

Protocols to expand and differentiate human neural progenitor cells

Ectica provides protocols to expand and differentiate human neural progenitor cells derived from NIH-approved H9 human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in the 3DProSeed synthetic hydrogel plate. The company can also propose protocols to expand and distinguish various neuronal stem cell lineages derived from developing human brain transduced with the myc transcription factors, showing high phenotype and genotype stability as well as multipotential neuronal differentiation capacity over long-term culture.

These cultures can be developed under serum-free conditions in Ectica’s fully synthetic hydrogels and can be co-cultured with pre-seeded mesenchymal supporting cells and astrocytes. The cultures can be used for preclinical studies and high-content screenings in neurotoxicity, neurogenesis, electrophysiology, neurotransmitter and receptor functions.

3DProSeed Features

• Hydrogel pre-assembled and delivered hydrated – Ready for cell seeding
• Standard format with 96-well plate and imaging glass bottom
• Automation compatible
• Highest optical clarity hydrogel
• Fully synthetic animal-free hydrogel
• Patented in-depth cross linking density gradient
• Enables sequential seeding
• Allows manual pipetting
• Amedable to GMP grade

Technology integration and customization

Ectica Technologies team is highly dedicated to offer a smooth and efficient integration of the technology into the client’s processes. This is why it engages in technology integration services for the clients that desire it.

For advanced or specific applications, Ectica Technologies also offers OEM/Private Label solutions customizable in terms of hydrogel chemistry, format and branding.

To learn more about how the 3DProSeed hydrogel microtiter plate can benefit your research or drug discovery program please complete the Quick Contact form and visit the download section.

You can also read more about 3DProSeed or request a quote here: