NAM-Driven 3D Cell Culture Innovation

At Tebubio, they support European life science researchers in adopting advanced 3D cell culture technologies that align with New Approach Methodologies (NAMs).

These innovative in vitro models offer greater physiological relevance than conventional 2D cultures, enabling more predictive studies of disease mechanisms, drug responses and cellular behaviour, while contributing to the reduction of animal experimentation.

Through close partnerships with technology innovators, we provide access to complementary 3D culture platforms designed to address a wide range of diverse scientific questions.

1. Gel-Free 3D Culture with in perlo™: Spheroids & Organoids

Matrix-free spheroid formation close to in vivo conditions

Pearl BioSystem’s in perlo™ technology creates liquid pearls in standard 96-well plates where cells spontaneously form spheroids or organoids without scaffolds. These gel-free microenvironments favour natural aggregation, enhanced nutrient diffusion, and optical clarity for imaging and screening.

Why in perlo™ Matters

Gel-free environment promotes spontaneous aggregation and avoids artefacts of solid matrices.
Only liquid media ensures improved molecular diffusion.
Optically transparent pearls are compatible with high-content imaging.
Non-enzymatic recovery preserves cell markers for downstream analysis.

Explore and learn more about the in perlo™ technology here.

Integrate gel-free 3D cultures into your NAM workflows for improved predictive screening.

2. Hydrogel-Based 3D Culture with 3-in-1 Plates

All-in-one hydrogel insert for formation, ECM integration, drug testing & analysis

The 3-in-1 Plate from Apricell combines multiple steps of 3D culture in one platform, from initial spheroid formation to drug testing and downstream assays, without transfer steps.

Key Benefits

Seamless workflow: spheroid generation, ECM integration, testing, and analysis all in the same insert.
Uniform spheroids and reduced risk of sample loss.
Lower cell numbers required, ideal for scarce primary material.
In situ imaging and histological analysis compatible.

This platform is particularly suited for invasion and co-culture studies, investigations of matrix stiffness using any type of ECM, drug screening workflows, immunohistochemistry applications, and advanced spatial biology analyses.

See the 3-in-1 Plate in action

Simplify complex 3D workflows with an integrated NAM platform.

3. Standardised Spheroid Generation with Sphericalplate 5D

High-capacity, uniform spheroid formation for scalable screening

The Sphericalplate 5D from our partner Kugelmeiers offers a standardised geometry that drives the generation of thousands of uniform spheroids per plate. Each 12‑well plate contains 750 microwells per well, allowing the formation of up to 9,000 spheroids.

Benefits at a Glance

Standardised spheroid size and uniformity for reproducible data.
Scalability: supports high‑volume spheroid generation for efficient high‑throughput screening.
Compatible with existing imaging and automation systems.
Enables secretome collection and multi-omic workflows.

Available in 6 or 96-well plate strip formats.

Generate uniform spheroids for high-throughput oncology and mechanistic studies.

4. Immobilised Spheroids with SmartSPhero™ Technology

Stable, anchored spheroids in a single focal plane

4Dcell SmartSPhero™ plates use patented anchoring point technology that holds spheroids in place during medium changes and compound additions, reducing sample loss and improving imaging consistency.

Why It’s Valuable

No spheroid detachment during manipulations.
Consistent uniform size and shape across wells.
All structures remain in the same focal plane for high-resolution imaging.

Anchor your NAM-compatible spheroids for high-resolution imaging, drug screening and DMPK studies.

Why Choose These 3D Culture Platforms?

Enhanced Physiological Relevance: Models that better mimic in vivo biology for disease research and therapeutic screening.
NAM-Aligned Methodologies: Support ethical innovation by reducing dependency on animal models and extending predictive in vitro capabilities.
Compatibility & Scalability: All systems fit standard lab infrastructure and integrate with imaging and automation workflows.

Ready to Advance Your Research?

Let their scientific team help you integrate the right 3D culture tools into your workflow, from oncology models to high-content imaging assays.

Image: Preparation of pearls is not complex, a small amount of liquid (20 to 300 µl) is pipetted onto a layer of hydrophobic powder that propagates spontaneously at the liquid-air interface. Spheroids form from the cells enclosed in the liquid marble after a few days (3-4 days), depending on the cell line.