Silk sponge instead of animal testing: How 3D cell culture system revolutionizes cancer diagnosis

A FFG-funded consortium from the University of Vienna, the University of Vienna and the Austrian research group at Technikum Wien has jointly developed an innovative bioanalytical testing system for radiopharmaceutical candidates for cancer diagnosis and treatment. It does not require any animal testing at all and can enable automated, fast and highly accurate analysis. The new method is described in detail in the famous journal Nuclear Medicine.

New drugs and diagnostic methods should be available quickly and safely and ideally – but preclinical testing phases, especially due to the high levels of required resources, often slows down rapid progress. In particular, the development of radiolabeled substances (“radiometrics”) that make physiological and pathological processes visible in the body and can be used in cancer diagnosis, for example, requiring time-consuming and cost-intensive tests, which are often based on animal experiments to date. However, these are not only morally controversial, but often provide results that cannot be transferred to the human body. Interdisciplinary research team from the University of Vienna, University of Applied Sciences Technology Vienna, Meduni Vienna and Doc Medikus GmbH have developed an innovative solution: a biological analysis testing system that uses human cells on the silk-based matrix to test the active ingredients, in reality, faster, pre-correlation, no animal testing.

Thoughts in the process

The patented process combines chromatography principles (based on the interaction separation of matter with stationary and mobile phases) with dynamic 3D cell culture. At the heart of the process is a stationary phase made from a biocompatible silk fibrin sponge that acts as an artificial scaffolding that fixes human cells in a three-dimensional structure. A special pump system continuously provides nutrients to cells, mimicking realistic conditions in human tissues, while radiopharmaceutical agents are applied and observed in real time using imaging techniques (µPET/CT, positron emission tomography/computer photography). This allows for parallel evaluation of radioactive schematic binding and cell biochemical processes. “Using our approach, we not only create alternatives to animal testing, but also make the development of new radiolabeled substances more effective. Our aim is to improve diagnosis and treatment and raise ethical standards at the same time.”

Related to practice

The new system allows accurate assessment of the binding properties of radiolabeled substances, its objective accuracy and possible side effects. Due to the radiation stability of the silk orthogenic factor and its reliable application in cell culture, its use has great advantages. Introducing debris (sieve-like partitions) between sponges reduces cell migration and improves reproducibility of results. Important factors, such as the distribution of radiation dose and the nutrient supply to cells, can be precisely controlled. Pay special attention to the automation and standardization of the process to enable the safe and efficient handling of radioactive materials. The new approach conforms to the 3R principle (“reduce, perfect, replace”) and FDA’s recommendations for critical path plans. It has the potential to significantly reduce animal testing, accelerate the development of radiopharmaceuticals and minimize radiation exposure to people. This pioneering technology could set new standards in preclinical radiopharmaceuticals – to achieve more sustainable and effective drug development.

The project to develop a spherical map of innovative 3D cell culture systems was funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), which is part of the Bridge Project.