3D liver microtissues are spheroids of hepatocyte cells that resemble liver tissue morphology and functionality. They maintain liver functions for over 21 days, allowing chronic toxicity studies. The microtissues are supplied ready-for-use in 96-well plates, eliminating cell culture steps. Compared to 2D cultures, the 3D microtissues better predict toxic effects and are suitable for high-throughput screening.

1. 3D liver
microtissues
Toxicology Products
» Liver-specific morphology and high functionality
over 21 days
» Chronic in vitro toxicity studies possible
» Assay-ready, no cell culturing needed
» No scaffolds, so no unwanted artifacts
» Supplied in automation-friendly 96 well-format

2. What are 3D liver microtissues?
Liver microtissues are multicellular spheroids of hepatocyte cells either in monoculture, or specially de-
signed in co-culture systems. These scaffold-free tissue models display remarkably similar histomorpho-
logical, functional and microenvironmental features to in vivo liver tissue.
3D liver microtissues are ideal for toxicology and metabolic analysis and are far more likely to be predic-
tive of adverse toxicological effects compared to sandwich cultures. At last these valuable 3D models
are conveniently available on demand in large quantities, ready-for-use in high-throughput applications.
How are InSphero 3D tumor microtissues made?
InSphero’s GravityPLUS process gently coerces cells to assemble into microtissues in a very reproducible
2D/3D cell culture comparison mass-production process. This process generates assay-ready 96 well plates, each containing one micro-
2D Sandwich 3D Microtissue tissue per well. By combining hepatocytes with other cells, such as liver-derived non-parenchymal cells,
Scaffold Yes No highly organotypic liver microtissues can be produced that retain liver-specific morphology and functio-
Co-culture – +++ nality for more than 21 days.
Long term functionality + +++
Bile canalicular network ++ +++
Cell-cell contacts + +++
Differentiation + +++
High-throughput analysis + +++
High-content analysis ++ ++

3. Natural
environment Advantages of InSphero 3D Liver Microtissues
Native-like tissue: Hepatocytes in 3D microtissues maintain a polarized structure, form bile canaliculi
and maintain native-like functionality for extended periods.
Faster and easier: Available in industrial-scale quantities, in standard 96-well format, ready for screen-
ing or other high-throughput applications, eliminating the effort required to produce 2D sandwich
cultures.
Compatible with established assays: No concerns about compatibility with current approved assays.
No scaffolds: Artificial scaffolds are not used which means freedom from concerns about unknown
and unwanted assay artefacts due to scaffold interactions with drug compounds, assay reagents or cells.
Longer culture lifetime: Whereas 2D sandwich cultures offer only a very narrow time window for
gathering data this is extended many-fold with InSphero’s liver microtissues (21 days or longer).
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4. Services Overview
For feasibility studies or compound
testing offers using our rat-liver
microtissues please contact our sales
department at sales@insphero.com
Product Overview
Assay-ready liver microtissues
Assay-ready microtissues delivered in a specially coated, non-adhesive, 96-well V-bottom plate:
Cat. # Name Description Cell source
MT-02-001-04 rLiMT Rat liver microtissues formed by primary Wistar
hepatocytes in co-culture with
non-parenchymal cells InSphero AG
MT-02-002-01 hLiMT Human liver microtissues formed by fresh Lonza Technoparkstrasse 1
human hepatocytes (homotypic culture) CH-8005 Zurich
MT-02-002-03 hLiMT Human liver microtissues formed by cryo- Lonza Switzerland
preserved human hepatocytes in co-culture
with normal human dermal fibroblasts
www.insphero.com
Phone: +41-44-515049-0
e-mail: sales@insphero.com
All technical and pricing information subject to change.
All products are for research use only. They are not intended for any animal
or human therapeutic or diagnostic use unless otherwise stated.