This study investigated whether micron-sized microspheres can be used as dispersed scaffolds where anchorage-dependent cells can proliferate and survive in suspension culture. Aggregates of murine 3T3 cells in a non-adherent plate cultured remained viable for more than 2 weeks by the presence of 0.5 mg/ml fibroin microspheres. A nucleoside incorporation assay confirmed the proliferation of 3T3 cells in the aggregates only when cultured with microspheres. Under these conditions, the glucose consumption rate of 3T3 cells increased to 66.5 nmol day⁻¹ cell⁻¹. Histological analysis demonstrated that the intercellular space of cell aggregates was larger in cultures supplemented with 0.5 mg/ml microspheres than in non-supplemented cultures. The cell aggregates with microspheres also exhibited a reduced arrest in G1 phase. Transmission electron microscopy verified the presence of microspheres in the space between cells in aggregates. Fibroin microspheres maintained the viability and proliferability of 3T3 cells cultured under non-adherent conditions and thus can be used to develop viable suspensions of anchorage-dependent cells.

这项研究调查了微米大小的微球是否可以用作分散的支架，其中锚定依赖性细胞可以在悬浮培养中增殖和存活。在 0.5 mg/ml 丝心蛋白微球的存在下，培养的非贴壁板中的鼠 3T3 细胞聚集体保持存活超过 2 周。核苷掺入试验证实，仅当与微球一起培养时，3T3 细胞才会在聚集体中增殖。在这些条件下，3T3 细胞的葡萄糖消耗率增加到 66.5 nmol day ^-1  cell ^-1. 组织学分析表明，在补充有 0.5 mg/ml 微球的培养物中，细胞聚集体的细胞间隙比未补充的培养物中大。具有微球的细胞聚集体在 G1 期也表现出减少的停滞。透射电子显微镜证实了聚集体中细胞之间的空间中存在微球。丝心蛋白微球保持了在非贴壁条件下培养的 3T3 细胞的活力和增殖能力，因此可用于开发贴壁依赖性细胞的可行悬浮液。