Biochemical Techniques and Instrumentation

6.3.2. Types of cultures

Cells can be grown as suspension or adherent cultures.

Suspension culture:

Some cells especially blood cells naturally live in suspension. Cultivation of these cells is done by suspending the cells in the medium. Suspension culture is also done for certain cells that do not express their characteristics in the adherent form. These cell lines are modified to survive in suspension cultures to be grown to a higher density. Absence of serum components in the growth medium helps to prevent adhesion.

Adherent culture:

Adherent cells require a surface for their growth. Tissue culture plastic or microcarrier, which are coated with extracellular matrix components are commonly used to increase adhesion properties and to provide other signals needed for growth and differentiation. Most cells derived from solid tissues are adherent. Another type of adherent culture is known as "organotypic culture" which involves growing cells in a three-dimensional environment.