Magnetic levitating polymeric nano/microparticular substrates for three-dimensional tumor cell culture

Herein, we describe magnetic cell levitation models using conventional polymeric microparticles or nanoparticles as a substrate for the three-dimensional tumor cell culture. When the magnetic force originating from the ring-shaped magnets overcame the gravitational force, the magnetic field-levitated KB tumor cells adhered to the surface area of magnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4)-encapsulated nano/microparticles and concentrated clusters of levitated cells, ultimately developing tumor cells to tumor spheroids. These simple cell culture models may prove useful for the screening of anticancer drugs and their formulations.

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► We engineered facile means for the engineering of three-dimensional tumor spheroids.
► Fe3O4-encapsulated polymeric nano/microparticles were used as substrates for tumor spheroids.
► This system exhibited magnetic cell levitation during three-dimensional cell culturing.