The power of 3D: using VitroscreenORA® Spheroids for advanced cosmetic ingredient testing by Vitroscreen
20 May 2024
VitroScreen ORA® series are scaffold free spheroids acting as Micro Physiological Systems applicable to Pharmaceutical, Cosmetic and Nutritional industry: they are advanced, fit for purpose, sustainable and applicable to next generation technology, suitable experimental window to follow dynamic of biological response and thus predictive versus humans.
The cosmetic industry thrives on innovation, constantly seeking novel ingredients to address new and unexplored skin needs and an increasing number of product’s claims. However, in order to explore the mechanism of action and biological efficacy of these new ingredients robust and relevant, convenient and applicable testing options for predictive and rapid ingredient screening are required. At VitroScreen they have been investing in 3D advanced test systems and in particular in scaffold free spheroids emerging as a powerful and innovative tool for advanced cosmetic ingredient testing.
Scaffold free Spheroids: the role of the pericellular microenvironment
VitroScreenORA® Spheroids are three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures that overcome the limitations of 2D models. VitroScreenORA® spheroids self-assembly and endogenous ECM (extra cellular matrix) production mimics the natural architecture and behaviors of human tissues. Cells in any tissue of our body sense and respond to the mechanical properties of the environment and ECM network (extra cellular matrix) provides them with fundamental information such as molecular composition of pericellular environment regulates cells behaviors. This is particularly true in case of dermis for example were the characteristics of ECM are responsible of skin appearance.
VitroScreenORA® spheroids grow physiologically according to the phenotypic characteristic of the donors by modifying over the time the morphological structure and metabolism, mirroring the rhythm of life as it occurs in each tissue of human body.
VitroScreenORA® spheroids have the unique advantage to be responsive to treatment at human relevant doses compared to 2D cultures and are suitable for long term exposures (up to 3 weeks) to investigate metabolism and mechanism of action: downstream analysis (medium and high throughput) is optimized for each project based on genomics, proteomics, and spatial biology investigations.
Endogenous ECM in VitroScreenORA® Dermis Spheroids: the complexity of dermis in a sphere
VitroScreenORA® Dermis spheroids are developed according to the hanging drop culture technique starting from primary human dermal fibroblasts: primary cells at early passages are able to self-assemble, without exogenous supports, and generate a rounded shaped spheroid in three to four days by cellular proliferation and continuous synthesis of an endogenous extracellular matrix.
Primary human dermal fibroblasts are donor-specific in terms of characteristics such as age and location, influencing the increase in the amount and thickness of collagen fibers during tissue assembly and the dynamic evolution of ECM characteristics according to natural senescence and donor age.
The relevance of their dermis spheroids is demonstrated by their capability to recapitulate the progressive dermal matrix deposition and ECM assembly preserving the main features of the native phenotype of different cell donors. They have demonstrated that by developing an advanced 3D culture system, the cells have a greater ability of generating a functional microenvironment responsive to external stimuli and to express ECM molecular mediators. By preserving cells phenotypical features and by enhancing the capacity to express tissue functionalities the dermis spheroid model seems an interesting candidate to perform preclinical investigations.[1]
Applications of dermal and vascularized dermal spheroids
- > To mirror intrinsic (during culture) and extrinsic (UVA induced) aging and senescence
- > To model dermis disorders as fibrosis, pro-inflammatory status associated to oxidative stress
> To investigate the damages derived by hypoxic conditions - > Dermis metabolism and detoxification process
Looking Forward: The Future of Spheroid Technology
The use of MPS marks a significant advancement in cosmetic ingredient testing. This technology holds the potential to revolutionize the cosmetics industry, accelerating the creation of innovative products backed by robust scientific evidence. As research in this field continues, we can expect to see further refinement of spheroid culture techniques and their applications. The potential integration of microfluidic technologies with spheroids could offer even more sophisticated models for studying skin physiology and response to ingredients. Ultimately, the use of spheroids will continue to shape the future of sustainable, responsible, and innovative cosmetic development.
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