Unlock More Physiologically Relevant Models for Drug Discovery & Disease Research
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At Tebubio, we support European life science researchers in adopting advanced 3D cell culture technologies that align with New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). These innovative in vitro models offer greater physiological relevance than conventional 2D cultures, enabling more predictive studies of disease mechanisms, drug responses and cellular behaviour, while contributing to the reduction of animal experimentation. Through close partnerships with technology innovators, we provide access to complementary 3D culture platforms designed to address a wide range of diverse scientific questions.
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1. Gel-Free 3D Culture with in perlo™: Spheroids & Organoids
Matrix-free spheroid formation close to in vivo conditions
Pearl BioSystem’s in perlo™ technology creates liquid pearls in standard 96-well plates where cells spontaneously form spheroids or organoids without scaffolds. These gel-free microenvironments favour natural aggregation, enhanced nutrient diffusion, and optical clarity for imaging and screening.
Why in perlo™ Matters
- Gel-free environment promotes spontaneous aggregation and avoids artefacts of solid matrices.
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Only liquid media ensures improved molecular diffusion.
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Optically transparent pearls are compatible with high-content imaging.
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Non-enzymatic recovery preserves cell markers for downstream analysis.
Explore and learn more about the in perlo™ technology here.
Integrate gel-free 3D cultures into your NAM workflows for improved predictive screening.
Figure 1: Preparation of pearls is not complex, a small amount of liquid (20 to 300 µl) is pipetted onto a layer of hydrophobic powder that propagates spontaneously at the liquid-air interface. Spheroids form from the cells enclosed in the liquid marble after a few days (3-4 days), depending on the cell line.
Figure 2: HTSphere Plate (96 well plate) serves as High Throughput 3D Tissue Culture Tool. A. 3-in-1 Plates B. 3-in-1 Plate C. HTSphere Plate.
2. Hydrogel-Based 3D Culture with 3-in-1 Plates
All-in-one hydrogel insert for formation, ECM integration, drug testing & analysis
The 3-in-1 Plate from Apricell combines multiple steps of 3D culture in one platform, from initial spheroid formation to drug testing and downstream assays, without transfer steps.
Key Benefits
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Seamless workflow: spheroid generation, ECM integration, testing, and analysis all in the same insert.
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Uniform spheroids and reduced risk of sample loss.
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Lower cell numbers required, ideal for scarce primary material.
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In situ imaging and histological analysis compatible.
This platform is particularly suited for invasion and co-culture studies, investigations of matrix stiffness using any type of ECM, drug screening workflows, immunohistochemistry applications, and advanced spatial biology analyses.
See the 3-in-1 Plate in action
Simplify complex 3D workflows with an integrated NAM platform.
3. Standardised Spheroid Generation with Sphericalplate 5D
High-capacity, uniform spheroid formation for scalable screening
The Sphericalplate 5D from our partner Kugelmeiers offers a standardised geometry that drives the generation of thousands of uniform spheroids per plate. Each 12‑well plate contains 750 microwells per well, allowing the formation of up to 9,000 spheroids.
Benefits at a Glance
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Standardised spheroid size and uniformity for reproducible data.
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Scalability: supports high‑volume spheroid generation for efficient high‑throughput screening.
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Compatible with existing imaging and automation systems.
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Enables secretome collection and multi-omic workflows.
Available in 6 or 96-well plate strip formats.
Generate uniform spheroids for high-throughput oncology and mechanistic studies.
Figure 4: A. & B.The APT® (Anchorage Point Technology) securely anchors spheroids in place, preventing their loss during routine manipulations such as medium changes or compound addition. This ensures that each spheroid remains in a predictable position on the same focal plane. Combined with the optically transparent hydrogel, the system is fully compatible with standard microscopy for high-resolution imaging. C. Comparison of detached spheroids between gels with vs. without contact points after vigorous medium exchange. Thanks to the APT®, spheroid loss drops below 12% during aggressive media exchanges, compared to an 86% loss in unanchored system. D. Examples of applications.
4. Immobilised Spheroids with SmartSPhero™ Technology
Stable, anchored spheroids in a single focal plane
4Dcell SmartSPhero™ plates use patented anchoring point technology that holds spheroids in place during medium changes and compound additions, reducing sample loss and improving imaging consistency.
Why It’s Valuable
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No spheroid detachment during manipulations.
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Consistent uniform size and shape across wells.
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All structures remain in the same focal plane for high-resolution imaging.
Anchor your NAM-compatible spheroids for high-resolution imaging, drug screening and DMPK studies.
Why Choose These 3D Culture Platforms?
- Enhanced Physiological Relevance: Models that better mimic in vivo biology for disease research and therapeutic screening.
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NAM-Aligned Methodologies: Support ethical innovation by reducing dependency on animal models and extending predictive in vitro capabilities.
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Compatibility & Scalability: All systems fit standard lab infrastructure and integrate with imaging and automation workflows.
Ready to Advance Your Research?
Let our scientific team help you integrate the right 3D culture tools into your workflow, from oncology models to high-content imaging assays.
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References
Figure 1: Radajewska A, Przybyszewski O, Emhemmed F, Muller CD, Barg E, Moreira H. “Three-dimensional in vitro culture systems in anticancer drug discovery targeted on cancer stem cells." Am J Cancer Res. 2021 Oct 15;11(10):4931-4946. PMID: 34765301; PMCID: PMC8569359.
Figure 2: Courtesy of Apricell Biotechnology Inc..
Figure 3 : Courtesy of Kugelmeiers.
Figure 4: Courtesy of 4Dcell.
Need Expert Guidance for Your 3D Disease Models?
Our scientific team at Tebubio can help you select the most appropriate 3D cell culture platforms, including spheroids, organoids, and hydrogel systems, tailored to your research objectives.
Receive personalised advice to optimise your workflows, enhance reproducibility, and accelerate your discoveries while aligning with NAMs and predictive in vitro approaches.