Breakthrough in 3D Cell Culture: Harvestable Microvessel Networks with Flexdym™
3D cell culture is rapidly becoming the gold standard in tissue engineering, drug testing, and regenerative medicine. Yet, most platforms still rely on PDMS-based systems that limit scalability and tissue recovery. In this article, we highlight a breakthrough 2024 study showing how Flexdym™, a biocompatible thermoplastic elastomer, enables the creation and harvesting of vascularized tissues offering a powerful alternative to traditional 3D cell culture methods.
The Limitations of Traditional 3D Cell Culture Systems
Traditional microfluidic 3D cell culture systems, particularly those made from PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane), have driven major scientific advances. However, these systems present significant challenges:
Poor scalability due to the time-consuming nature of soft lithography fabrication.
Absorption of hydrophobic drugs and assay artifacts caused by PDMS gas permeability.
Irreversible bonding of layers, making it difficult to access or retrieve cultured tissues without damage.
These issues reduce reproducibility and complicate clinical translation of many 3D cell culture models.
New to microfluidics? Check our overview here to understand how microfluidic systems support advanced cell cultures.
Why Flexdym™ Is a Game-Changer for Microfluidic Cell Culture
To overcome these limitations, researchers developed a triple-channel thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and polystyrene (PS) microfluidic device using Flexdym™, a SEBS-based biocompatible thermoplastic elastomer. Key innovations include:
6× stronger bonding between Flexdym and PS compared to PDMS–PS under similar conditions.
Reversible, damage-free sealing, allowing direct access to cell cultures.
Minimal protein absorption, reducing interference in biochemical assays.
These advantages position Flexdym as an ideal material for scalable, ethical, and reproducible 3D cell culture platforms
How Researchers Engineered 3D Vascularized Tissues Using Flexdym
Using the Flexdym–PS microdevice, researchers cultivated vascularized tissues by co-culturing GFP-HUVECs and RFP-labeled lung fibroblasts in fibrin gels. Key results include:
14% to 36% increase in microvessel coverage over 8 days.
Formation of 22 mm total vessel length with confirmed lumens via confocal imaging.
Leak-free perfusion of 0.62 µm fluorescent beads, demonstrating full network functionality.
These engineered vasculatures closely mimic in vivo microenvironments, making them excellent models for drug testing and regenerative applications.
Non-Destructive Tissue Harvesting in 3D Cell Culture Platforms
A major breakthrough is Flexdym’s reversible bonding, which enables removal of the TPE slab post-culture to expose intact vessel networks on the PS substrate without damage. This capability facilitates:
Enzymatic digestion and downstream molecular assays.
Transplantation and detailed histological analysis.
A reduction in the need for invasive animal harvesting methods.
This method represents the first published technique for non-destructive tissue recovery from bonded microfluidic platforms, advancing 3D cell culture technology frontiers.
Toward Scalable, Ethical, and Reproducible 3D Cell Culture Models
offer a superior alternative to PDMS systems by enabling:
Compatibility with standard cell culture workflows.
Reduced drug absorption and assay interference.
Scalable, reproducible manufacturing suited for academic and commercial use.
Ethical tissue generation without reliance on animal models.
These innovations meet the growing demand for next-generation organ-on-chip and tissue engineering platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions about 3D Cell Culture and Flexdym™
What is 3D cell culture and why is it important?
3D cell culture grows cells in three dimensions to better mimic natural tissues, improving drug testing, disease modeling, and regenerative therapies compared to flat 2D cultures.
What are the main challenges of current 3D cell culture systems?
Many systems use PDMS, which absorbs drugs, is hard to scale, and bonds irreversibly, complicating tissue retrieval and reproducibility.
How does Flexdym™ improve 3D cell culture platforms?
Flexdym allows reversible bonding and low drug absorption, enabling non-destructive harvesting of vascularized tissues and scalable production.
Can Flexdym replace PDMS in organ-on-chip models?
Yes, Flexdym offers scalability, compatibility with workflows, and tissue harvesting advantages, making it a superior organ-on-chip material.
References
Moon, B.-U., Li, K., Malic, L., Morton, K., Shao, H., et al. (2024). Reversible bonding in thermoplastic elastomer microfluidic platforms for harvestable 3D microvessel networks. Lab on a Chip, 24, 4948–4961. https://doi.org/10.1039/d4lc00530a