Simulating In Vivo Tissue Architecture with Permeable Supports
The porous cell culture insert is an indispensable tool for researchers aiming to bridge the gap between simplified two-dimensional (2D) cell monolayers and complex three-dimensional (3D) biological environments.
These devices consist of a porous membrane suspended above the base of a culture well, creating an apical and basolateral compartment. This physical separation is critical for culturing polarized cells, such as epithelial or endothelial cells, which naturally exhibit distinct functional domains. By allowing nutrients, signaling molecules, and metabolic waste products to diffuse freely across the permeable support, the insert facilitates communication similar to that found in native tissue, where cells interact with basement membranes and adjacent tissues. The ability to sample media separately from the two compartments enables researchers to study directional transport, secretion, and absorption—processes central to organ systems like the gut, kidney, and lung. Utilizing these inserts moves experimentation closer to the physiological reality, providing a more relevant and…