The craving for multiphase materials with adjustable properties for mammalian cell encapsulation persists despite intensive research on 3D cell culture and tissue engineering. This interest is incited by the complex interaction between cells and different materials, various manufacturing methods, cell chip applications, and the aspiration to abolish animal experiments. This study aims to show the feasibility of preparing a stable multiphase material for prolonged mammalian cell embedment and 3D cell culture. The material comprises silica as the solid phase, cell culture medium with serum as the main liquid phase and air as the gas phase. The silica sol-cell culture medium-serum mixture was foamed, and it turned into a stable foamed hydrogel. The stability, flow properties and foaming parameters were studied by rheological and surface tension measurements. The viability of embedded cells was studied by measuring the metabolic activity at different time points. Their sensitivity to the surrounding conditions was compared to cells grown in monolayers by exposing them to a toxic compound. A stable foamed hydrogel with cell culture medium as the main liquid phase was prepared. Based on oscillatory measurements, the foamed hydrogel stays stable for at least 6-7 weeks and the embedded mammalian cells remain viable for the same time period. Appropriate surface tension and viscosity were crucial for an at least twofold volume increase by foaming, which is necessary for the mammalian cells to survive and proliferate. A test with a toxic compound reveals a difference in the sensitivity of cells in monolayer cultures versus embedded cells.

中文翻译：

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二氧化硅，培养基和空气的多相基质，用于3D哺乳动物细胞培养。

尽管对3D细胞培养和组织工程进行了深入研究，对具有可调节特性的哺乳动物细胞封装的多相材料的渴望仍然存在。细胞与不同材料之间的复杂相互作用，各种制造方法，细胞芯片的应用以及对废除动物实验的渴望激起了这种兴趣。这项研究旨在证明为长时间的哺乳动物细胞嵌入和3D细胞培养制备稳定的多相材料的可行性。该材料包含二氧化硅作为固相，以血清为主要液相和空气为气相的细胞培养基。使二氧化硅溶胶-细胞培养基-血清混合物发泡，并变成稳定的发泡水凝胶。稳定性，通过流变学和表面张力测量研究了流动特性和发泡参数。通过测量不同时间点的代谢活性来研究包埋细胞的活力。通过将它们暴露于有毒化合物，将它们对周围环境的敏感性与单层生长的细胞进行了比较。制备了以细胞培养基为主要液相的稳定的泡沫水凝胶。根据振荡测量，发泡水凝胶至少在6-7周内保持稳定，而包埋的哺乳动物细胞在同一时间段仍保持活力。适当的表面张力和粘度对于通过发泡至少增加两倍的体积至关重要，这对于哺乳动物细胞生存和增殖是必需的。