Properties of 3-Dimensional Cell Cultivation Matrices and Scaffolds in Magnetic Resonance Imaging at 3 Tesla

Natural or synthetic scaffolds are essential for developing three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models, as they provide structural stability and accurately replicate the cellular microenvironment. When integrated into optimized setups, scaffold-supported cellular aggregates, such as spheroids, can be non-destructively characterized and monitored using 3T Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). However, a significant technical limitation is the presence of MR artifacts generated by scaffolds, which can severely obscure the visualization of the embedded spheroids. This study systematically evaluated the suitability of various scaffolds and matrices (including Matrigel®, fibrin glue, and several hydrogels) for MRI and MR spectroscopy (MRS). The materials were investigated both native and seeded with chondrosarcoma cells (SW1353). Our findings revealed considerable variability in MR compatibility across different materials. Specifically, fibrin glue proved unsuitable for MR applications due to substantial artifact generation that interfered with the visualization of cellular components. Furthermore, the results emphasize the importance of the observation period, as material degradation processes can introduce confounding factors in longitudinal MR studies. The choice of scaffold material is paramount for the successful analysis of 3D cell models via MRI. Careful selection is required, as the materials’ properties and temporal stability directly impact the interpretability of the acquired data.