Human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cell culture and differentiation in 3-D collagen hydrogels for cell-based biosensing

Cell-based three-dimensional systems are desirable in the field of high throughput screening assays due to their similarity to in vivo environment. We have used SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells cultured in 3-D collagen hydrogel as a cell-based biosensor. There was no statistically significant difference in SH-SY5Y proliferation rate between 2-D monolayer and 3-D collagen culture formats. The cells exhibited a heterogeneous resting membrane potential distribution. In response to high K+ (50 mM) depolarization, 3-D cells were less responsive in comparison to 2-D cells, supporting the hypothesis that 2-D cell calcium dynamics may be exaggerated. L-Type Ca2+ expression levels based on staining results were inconsistent with Bay K 8644 channel activation results, suggesting that, either the majority of the channels were non-functional or could not be activated by Bay K 8644. In conclusion, the results confirm the differences in cellular function when cultured using a 2-D versus a 3-D matrix.