Development of a cell co-cultivation system based on protein magnetic membranes, using a MSLA 3D printer

Abstract The ability to reproduce in vitro cell-cell interactions and transitions across different functional states warrants the development of model systems for studying various physiological and pathological processes. To analyze intercellular interactions, it is imperative to co-cultivate distinct cell types. Such model systems are widely used for reproducing the in vivo conditions of cell-cell interactions. This article reviews existing models and proposes a new 3D printing-derived cell co-cultivation system based on levitation under a magnetic field in the culture medium of a magnetic protein membrane with cells. The 3D printing method allows to flexibly and quickly adjust the manufacturing process to the needs of a particular laboratory. Such protein membranes can be made in any laboratory using a 3D printer and widely available general laboratory reagents.