Cell culture is a fundamental tool in biomedical research and biotechnology. Its development has enabled advances in the production of biopharmaceuticals, cell therapies, cancer research, and vaccine development. Additionally, its application has extended to tissue engineering, toxicology, and the development of disease models. In this article, we will explore the fundamentals of cell culture, its applications, and the necessary conditions for its success.
What is cell culture?
Cell culture is the process by which cells are maintained and proliferated outside their original organism in a controlled environment. This technique has revolutionized modern biology, allowing researchers to study cell physiology, drug responses, and develop new advanced therapies. Over the years, this methodology has been refined with the use of optimized culture media and advanced monitoring systems that ensure cell viability and functionality.
For a successful cell culture, it is crucial to have an appropriate culture medium. This medium must contain essential nutrients such as amino acids, glucose, inorganic salts, growth factors, etc. Depending on the type of cells being cultured, specialized media with specific compositions can be used to promote growth and differentiation.
The environment in which the cell culture is maintained also plays a key role. It is crucial to control physical factors such as temperature, which is generally kept at 37°C, and humidity, which should be high to prevent medium evaporation. The regulation of pH and CO₂ concentration is essential, as cells require stable conditions for optimal growth. Many of these conditions are automatically controlled in incubators designed for this purpose.
Cells in culture can be derived from animal or human tissues and are classified into:
Primary cultures: Obtained directly from tissues and have a limited lifespan in culture. These cultures more accurately reflect the original tissue physiology, although their proliferation capacity is restricted.
Cell lines: Immortalized cells that can grow indefinitely under appropriate conditions. They are widely used in research and biotechnological production due to their stability and ease of manipulation.
Stem cells: With the ability to differentiate into different cell types depending on culture conditions. These cells are of great interest in regenerative medicine and disease modeling, as they can generate various specialized cell types.
Cell culture has evolved significantly, incorporating innovative technologies such as bioreactors and 3D tissue printing. These advances have improved the efficiency and scalability of cell cultures, facilitating their application in biomedicine and industrial bioprocesses. The automation of processes and real-time monitoring have enhanced reproducibility and culture quality, ensuring that cells grow under optimal conditions and are suitable for use in various scientific and industrial applications.
Types of cell culture
Monolayer culture (2D): Cells grow attached to a surface, forming a flat layer. This type of culture is widely used in basic cell biology, pharmacology, and toxicology studies, as it allows easy access to cells for microscopy and biochemical analysis.
Suspension culture: Used for non-adherent cells, such as hematopoietic cell lines. These cultures are ideal for biopharmaceutical production, as they enable efficient scaling in bioreactors and facilitate cell collection in suspension.
Three-dimensional (3D) culture: Allows for a more physiological and realistic cell organization, simulating in vivo tissue structures. It is used in cancer studies, tissue regeneration, and advanced pharmacological testing, as it enables cell interactions similar to those occurring in a living organism.
Organoid culture: Multicellular 3D structures that mimic the function and organization of real organs. Organoids have revolutionized biomedical research by providing more accurate models for studying diseases and testing drugs in environments closer to biological reality.
Co-cultures: Combination of different cell types in the same system to study cell interactions. This approach allows for the investigation of cell communication in processes such as inflammation, cancer, and tissue regeneration.
Critical conditions for cell culture
The success of a cell culture depends on several key factors:
Culture medium: Must contain glucose, amino acids, salts, vitamins, and growth factors. The medium composition can vary depending on the cell type and culture purpose, with specific media available for stem cells, tumor lines, or 3D cultures.
Temperature and humidity: Usually maintained at 37°C with 95% humidity. These conditions replicate the internal environment of the organism and are essential for cell viability.
pH and CO₂: Controlled through buffering agents and a 5% CO₂ atmosphere. A stable pH is crucial to avoid changes in cell physiology and maintain an optimal environment.
Sterility: Contamination by bacteria, fungi, or mycoplasma can compromise the experiment. Aseptic culture techniques and appropriate filtration should be used to minimize contamination risk.
Cell density: Excessive cell growth can alter medium conditions and affect viability. Proliferation should be monitored, and cell passages should be performed to maintain healthy growth.
Oxygenation: Some cells require specific oxygen levels for proper growth. In three-dimensional or high-performance cultures, oxygenation can be controlled using specialized systems to ensure oxygen availability at all cell layers.
Applications of cell culture
- Biopharmaceutical production: Mammalian cell culture is essential for the production of monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, and therapeutic proteins such as recombinant insulin. Cell lines such as CHO (Chinese Hamster Ovary) and HEK293 are widely used in therapeutic protein production.
- Cell therapy and regenerative medicine: Stem cell culture has enabled the development of therapies for degenerative diseases and tissue repair. Tissue engineering has also benefited from cell culture, allowing for the regeneration of tissues such as skin and cartilage in the laboratory for transplantation.
- Disease modeling and drug testing: Culturing cells from patients allows scientists to study diseases in a controlled environment and test potential treatments before clinical trials. Organoids and 3D cultures provide more accurate models of disease progression and drug response compared to traditional 2D cultures.
- Cancer research: Cell culture plays a crucial role in cancer research, allowing researchers to study tumor biology and test anti-cancer drugs. Cancer cell lines enable the investigation of tumor growth, metastasis mechanisms, and the development of personalized treatments.
- Toxicology studies: Cell cultures are used to evaluate the toxicity of chemicals, drugs, and environmental pollutants. These studies help reduce the reliance on animal testing and improve the efficiency of toxicity screenings.
Conclusion
Cell culture is indispensable in biotechnology, driving innovations in drug development, regenerative medicine and biomedical research. As technology advances, automated bioreactors, real-time monitoring and 3D culture systems will continue to improve the reproducibility and scalability of cell culture. These advances not only accelerate research, but also optimize bioproduction efficiency.
TECNIC is in the development of innovative bioprocessing solutions that support the pharmaceutical and research industries. By integrating the most advanced cell culture technologies, TECNIC ensures high quality, scalable and reproducible results, enabling breakthrough discoveries and applications in modern biotechnology.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
It is the process of growing and maintaining cells outside their original organism in a controlled environment.
Primary cultures, cell lines, and stem cells.
The culture medium provides essential nutrients such as glucose, amino acids, vitamins, salts, and growth factors necessary for cell survival and proliferation.
Most mammalian cells require a temperature of 37°C and a humidity level of 95% to maintain proper physiological functions and prevent excessive evaporation of the medium.
Success in cell culture depends on maintaining optimal conditions, including a suitable culture medium with essential nutrients, stable temperature and humidity, proper pH and CO₂ regulation, and strict sterility to prevent contamination.
