BMB206: 3D spheroid culture as long term in vitro cell culture model (5 ECTS)

STADS: 01015101

Level
PhD course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the spring semester.

Teacher responsible
Email: kwr@bmb.sdu.dk

Additional teachers
sjf@bmb.sdu.dk

Timetable
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Comment:
Max 18 studerende

Prerequisites:
None

Academic preconditions:
This is a postgraduate level course (master students, PhD level)

The participants will be expected to have knowledge about basic cell physiology and biochemistry on a bachelor level. Knowledge of the basic principles of light microscopy techniques will be useful but not required. 

Course introduction
Since the breakthroughs that were made in cell culture in the 1950’s (in relation to the development of the polio vaccine), the prime focus has been on how to successfully grow and propagate cells in culture. Traditional monolayer cell culture techniques (2 dimensional cell culture = 2D) focused on cell growth conditions promoting a rapidly growing, but low differentiated cells. Cell cultured under such conditions are usually “locked” in a state where they are not able to expound their advanced cellular functions. In other words, cells lose many of their physiological attributes important for organ function when grown in classical 2D cell culture techniques.

It is becoming widely realised that new cell culture techniques focused on cell functionality are needed. Evidence is emerging that if cells are grown under the correct conditions, they automatically organise themselves into aggregates which have features resembling the adult mature tissue from which they came. They also gain in vivo physiological functionality.

Three dimensional (3D) structures appear to be essential for in vivo functionality [1-6]. Endothelial cell spheroids can from a hollow monolayer which expresses a tissue-like phenotype [7], human epidermal cells undergo proliferative differentiation and form a contact-lens-like disk with all the in vivo EM features of skin (except hair) [8], canine epithelial kidney cells form cysts which resemble rudimentary kidney glomerulae [9] or when treated with a growth factor differentiate into branched tubules as seen in the kidney [10]. Despite this, most research is carried out on cells, grown in classical flat (2D) culture systems.

During this course, the students will focus on one of the new 3D culture techniques, which utilise the growth of 3D cell spheroids in a micro-gravity environment. The students will learn how to manage the 3D cultures, use different culture quality validation methods, as well as how to characterise and prepare biological samples for further studies (sample preparation for further applications).

The course will also give the knowledge about traditional 2D techniques, specific requirements for cell culture laboratories (laboratory safety classification), describe and demonstrate in use the electronic laboratory management as part of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP).

After the course, the course participant’s should be able to:

• use the 3D spheroid cell culture system
• use material and interpreted result produced with us of the 3D spheroid cell culture system
• calculate the doubling time of cells grown in 3D cell cultures
• utilise luminescence-based assays for cell welfare assessment
• use light microscopy techniques for culture quality assessment
• use the principles of an electronic laboratory logbook for experiment documentation and data transfer

Qualifications
After the course, the course participant’s should be able to:
- use the 3D spheroid cell culture system
- use material and interpreted result produced with us of the 3D spheroid cell culture system
 - calculate the doubling time of cells grown in 3D cell cultures
 - utilise luminescence-based assays for cell welfare assessment
 - use light microscopy techniques for culture quality assessment
 - use the principles of an electronic laboratory logbook for experiment documentation and data transfer

Expected learning outcome
After the course, the course participant’s will know: 

• basic knowledge about general cell culture techniques 
• in depth knowledge about the 3D spheroid cell culture system 
• laboratory classification
• types of laboratory documentation

Subject overview


Literature
There isn't any litterature for the course at the moment.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam

1. Laboratory exercise. Practical hands-on skill focus on particular experimental procedure
2. Project report. For the examination the Project report containing Electronic Laboratory Logbook (ELL) and the Electronic Experiment Protocol (EEP) will be evaluated for its usefulness and completeness as prepublication materials

Assessment and marking:

1. Oral exam. (5 ECTS) internal marking, 7-mark scale. Allowed exam aid is the students own project report. (01015102). 

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.
Intro phase: 40 hours
Skills training phase: 29 hours, hereof:
 - Tutorials: 5 hours
 - Laboratory exercises: 24 hours

Educational activities
Online learning

• Subject 1: Demonstration materials (cell culture basics move)
• Subject 2: Laboratory protocols and procedures
• Subject 3: Electronic laboratory/experiment log book 

Self-study of available literature: Theoretical aspects of 3D cell spheroid growth in bioreactor vessels

Preparation of project report: The report should contain Electronic Laboratory Logbook (ELL) and the Electronic Experiment Protocol (EEP) 

Preparation to the oral exam: Students will prepare to discuss they project report based on the feedback received from the teachers 

Educational form
This is a 3-week block course, which will be run during the spring semester. 

The multimedia materials, course protocols and templates will be available for the students via the SDU e-learn (Blackboard) system one week before the laboratory exercises starts.

All students assignments such as ELL and EPP as well as the teacher feedback will be placed on the course e-learn virtual space (Blackboard).

Language
This course is taught in English.

Remarks
The course has limited entry. The following 4 criterias are taken into consideration when seats are assigned.

1. Students with the most ECTS from their master
2. Students who are accepted conditionally on the master 
3. Students who follows master courses concurrent with their bachelor programme
4. Bachelor students

If the score is even lots are drawn.

The academic enviroments of The faculty of science manages the prioritisation and at waiting list is established and will then be made aware from the faculty. The waiting list will not be transferred to the following year.

In order to keep the assigned seat you need to attend the first course day or notify the teacher, otherwise the seat is given to the next student from the waiting list.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.