Publications

Three types of 3-D Life hydrogels were evaluated against three alternative matrices, specifically Matrigel®, fibrin, and polystyrene inserts, to determine their effectiveness for 3 Tesla MRI scanning. Tumor cell spheroids were embedded in these matrices and assessed for cell visibility, long-term stability, artifact generation, cost, and usability. The 3-D Life PVA-HA (hyaluronic crosslinker) hydrogel emerged as the most favorable matrix, as it offered stable, interference-free conditions conducive to prolonged spectroscopic and imaging analyses, in contrast to Matrigel®, which suffers from reduced structural stability during extended imaging. Furthermore, fibrin and polystyrene inserts had limited performance due to the generation of imaging artifacts and restricted accessibility. These findings highlight the benefits of the modular flexibility provided by the 3-D Life hydrogel system, which allows for adaptation of hydrogel properties to meet the specific requirements of the application.