Mesenchymal Assays

Creative Biolabs supports mesenchyma assays by colony-forming unit–fibroblast (CFU-F) assays to assist clients in testing stromal/microenvironmental toxicity and studying the development of mesenchymal cells.

Colony-Forming Unit – Fibroblast (CFU-F)

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), initially defined as CFU-F, are a type of pluripotent stem cells in the bone marrow stroma and proved to have the ability to form new bone structures. When plated at low density, these progenitor cells can adhere in culture and proliferate to form discrete colonies including fibroblast-like cells capable of developing in vitro into cells of different mesenchymal lineages such as bone, cartilage, and fat.

Fig.1 Representative image of a small macroscopic colony of CFU-F.¹

Importance of Mesenchymal Assays

CFU-F assay is a reliable technique for evaluating MSCs' capacity for proliferation. When MSCs are cultured in monolayers at clonogenic levels on tissue culture plastic, the CFU-F assay determines how effectively they produce colony units. Colony-forming efficiency is a popular method nowadays used to evaluate the quality of MSC preparations in preclinical studies and clinical trials.

Standard Procedure of CFU-F Assay

The CFU-F assay uses standard cell culture techniques to determine the frequency of plastic adherent, connective tissue progenitor cells in a biological material, such as bone marrow concentrate cells (BMAC). Each colony forms from a single progenitor cell, which is a critical principle of the CFU-F assay. As a result, the number of colonies observed is indicative of the proportion of progenitor cells to all the cells plated.

Applications of Mesenchymal Assays

Mesenchymal assays serve as indispensable tools in biopharmaceutical research, offering crucial insights into the intricate functions of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The mesenchymal assays play a pivotal role in underlying tissue regeneration, immune modulation, and disease pathogenesis, which contributes to innovations in regenerative medicine and targeted disease interventions.

• Investigate the immunomodulatory properties of MSCs, providing insights into their interactions with immune cells and their role in immune-related disorders.
• Determine whether the treatment will produce stromal/microenvironmental toxicity caused by a chemical or radiation, aiding in the identification and development of novel therapeutic agents.
• Characterize MSCs for their suitability in cell-based therapies, ensuring safety and efficacy in clinical applications.
• Study the impact of MSCs on inflammatory responses, paving the way for potential interventions in inflammatory disorders.

Our Services

Creative Biolabs offers tailor-made mesenchyma assay services to enhance and streamline every aspect of your preclinical drug development research. Our steadfast commitment, coupled with a robust foundation in the research field of 3D biology, aims to enhance and contribute a valuable aspect to assist your research initiatives. Creative Biolabs offers cutting-edge technologies and high-quality 3D models, meticulously tailored to meet the demands of your preclinical drug development studies. Our repertoire of models encompasses, but is not confined to:

• 3D Spheroid Model
• Organ-on-a-chip Model
• 3D Ex Vivo Human Tissue Model
• Precision-Cut Tissue Slice Model

Feel free to reach out and share your specific needs with us.

Related Sections:

• CFC (Colony-Forming Cell) Assays
• High-content Imaging and Analysis
• Tissue Cross-Reactivity Studies
• Gastrointestinal Motility Assays
• Pain-Related Functional Assays