What Are the Advantages of Using the RAFT^TM System for Advanced Cell Culture Modeling?

The RAFT^TM System has been designed with usability in mind, with simple easy-to-follow protocols that allow researchers to set up 3D cell cultures in under an hour.

RAFT^TM 3D Cell Cultures 

• are easy to handle for downstream assays
• enable long term culture maintenance
• allow formation of multilayer 3D models

Closer to an in-vivo model – 3D cell culture differs significantly from the traditional 2D culture. There is a trending shift within research to personalized solutions and more biologically relevant models to understand cell behavior. More and more scientific journals and government institutions are recommending the usage of optimal starting materials to build relevant models. In addition, animal models are becoming increasingly cost prohibitive or non-ideal option in development of new drug targets. Such factors are fueling the growing market need for better 3D culture methods such as RAFT^TM System. 

An important differentiation of the RAFT^TM System to other 3D platforms or to 2D culture methods is its usability in developing complex in vitro models. The versatility of the system has been beneficial especially in certain applications such as development of a tumor microenvironment, liver fibrosis models, corneal models or blood-brain barrier models where a multi-layer co-culture setup is difficult to achieve with alternative methods.

Complete kit solution – 3D cultures are difficult to setup and optimize. The RAFT^TM System is user-friendly, supplying the necessary reagents, absorbers and protocols optimized to work together to form 3D cultures. The kit and supporting protocols are designed to ease the transition of a first-time 3D culture user to the RAFT^TM System.

Flexible system – The RAFT^TM System has previously been customized by users based on individual experimental needs. RAFT^TM 3D Cell Cultures can be created with single or multiple cell types in standard 96- or 24-well cell culture plates. The collagen matrix, for instance, can be spiked with additional extracellular matrix proteins. Cell culture inserts can be added to broaden the applications and create complex co-culture models or barrier models including air-lift models. Please note additional validation steps may be required by researchers for such customization of the RAFT^TM System. Please contact Scientific Support for specific requests or data on previously established RAFT^TM Models.

Versatile applications – The robust nature of RAFT^TM 3D Cultures facilitates easy handling of RAFT^TM 3D Models and long-term culture maintenance. The RAFT^TM 3D Cultures can be utilized in various down-stream analysis methods such as immunofluorescence microscopy, histology, ELISA or expression profiling to name a few. Check out our technical notes and protocols on the right side to learn more.

Compatible with various cell types – Several human primary cell types such as coronary artery endothelial cells, HUVECs, corneal cells, dermal fibroblasts, bronchial epithelial and smooth muscle cells and astrocytes as well as different human breast, liver and lung cancer cell lines have already successfully been cultured in the RAFT^TM System. The established models reach from single cell-type models to complex co-cultures mimicking the human blood-brain barrier or the human cornea.

Any questions? You wonder if the RAFT^TM System is applicable to your project? Contact us to get support.