SpheroMatrices array technology (patent pending) unlocks the biology contained within 3D spheroid models by making physical sections through the spheroids in a 96 well plate format.
The spheroid array sections can be probed by multiplex immunofluorescence staining and/or in situ hybridisation and analysed by automated image analysis scripts for a wide variety of end points, an approach which overcomes the light scatter and quenching issues inherent in trying to image whole spheroids.
This approach de-risks drug development by identifying targets that would not be detected with currently available platforms so serves as a valuable supplement to current platforms.
MicroMatrices have published a paper, entitled “A Human iPSC-derived 3D platform using primary brain cancer cells to study drug development and personalized medicine” in Scientific Reports illustrating the application of SpheroMatrices microTMA technology in a 3D organoid glioblastoma model .
For more information, please visit www.spheromatrices.com.
SpheroMatrices (patent pending) technology aligns 3D tissue spheroids on a 2D geometric grid to facilitate simultaneous sectioning of many (100s) of individual spheroids for subsequent histological staining. 
Our approach increases the efficiency and accuracy of immunofluorescence biomarker measurements in human tissue spheroids, offering a valuable in vitro approach to biomarker validation.
SpheroMatrices technology is highly versatile as it adapts 3D tissue models to existing high throughput screening instrumentation/methodologies, opening up many more possible applications for these human-relevant model systems.
Multiplexed Analytics with SpheroMatrices
The SpheroMatrices platform preserves the experimental layout of your 96 well plate making it possible to compare treatment groups within the same experiment .
As the TMA sections are fixed, it is possible to perform Heat-induced Epitope Retrieval (HIER) on the samples without impacting upon the integrity of the tissue.
HIER makes it possible to probe the tissues with antibodies for virtually any molecular endpoint, and with current multiplexing protocols e.g Perkin Elmer TSA Opal technology , it is possible to stain for up to 7 tissue biomarkers per slide.
To illustrate the utility of the platform, an experiment in the 96 well format may consist of 8 treatment groups of 12 microtissues per group per plate.
A SpheroMatrices TMA typically produces ~10 serial sections. Hence with 7 color multiplex staining it would be possible to quantify up to 70 different end points across the array: 7 biomarkers x 10 slides = 70 endpoints per experiment over 8 different treatment groups (n=12).
With SpheroMatrices, you will optimize the value contained within your 3D model.
(Please see our SpheroMatrices flyer for more features of the array technology.)
on an interactive, step by step basis. Collaborations can begin with pilot projects which can then be scaled up to larger research programs, according to your requirements.
