抄録
Although cells live in three-dimensional environments which consist of neighboring cells and cells' own extra-cellular matrices (ECMs), so far Cell Biology restricted itself to only two dimensions of Petri dishes. However, micromechanical strains on cell surfaces significantly differ on Petri dishes from that in ECMs. It is now possible to culture most cells in three-dimensional environments using a chemically defined synthetic matrix peptide, PuraMatrixTM, and this will change the face of basic research and in study areas where animal models have been traditionally used. An example of hepatocyte culture is described.
