TAP Biosystems RAFT 3D cell culture system

The RAFT system, from TAP Biosystems, comprises a RAFT plate, reagents, plate heater and protocol for the production of collagen-based 3D cell cultures in a simple, consistent and reproducible format. The system enables production of reproducible 3D cell cultures in a standard 96-well compound screening plate format.

The simple three-step process of mix, make and measure simplifies the route to improved results from 3D experiments. Scientists simply mix the reagents from the kit with their cells, pipette into 96-well plates and incubate on the plate heater for 15 min to form a cell-seeded collagen hydrogel. The plate is placed on the hydrogels and in just 15 min some of the medium is absorbed gently, leaving cells ‘encapsulated’ in physiological strength collagen, suitable for use in cell-based secondary screening.

The benefit of using this process is that it creates a realistic cellular environment to study cells’ complex behaviour and gives scientists complete control over their experimental parameters. Researchers can choose cell types and cell seeding densities and create complex co-cultures, including multiple layers if required, and they can use a range of analytical screening techniques, such as imaging, biochemical, histological and omics analysis with their 3D cell cultures.