Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40118968›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2025

Influence of experimental variables on spheroid attributes.

Songshan Zhu, Jun Yin, Xiaotong Lu, Dan Jiang, Rui Chen, Kai Cui, Wanjun He, Na Huang, Guangxian Xu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
27citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

27 citing papers in PubMed.

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  17. Mechanical regulation of N2A neural cell behavior by microtissue densification.In vitro cellular & developmental biology. Animal · 2025
    Article
  18. Review
  19. Animal product-free formation and cultivation of three-dimensional primary hepatocyte spheroids.Drug metabolism and disposition: the biological fate of chemicals · 2025
    Article
  20. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Songshan Zhu *Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology and Molecular Diagnostics, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, School of Medical Technology, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, People's Republic of China.
Jun Yin *Institute of transplantation medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University; Guangxi Clinical Research Center for Organ Transplantation; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Organ Donation and Transplantation, Nanning, People's Republic of China.
Xiaotong Lu *Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology and Molecular Diagnostics, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, School of Medical Technology, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, People's Republic of China.
Dan JiangGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology and Molecular Diagnostics, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, School of Medical Technology, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, People's Republic of China.
Rui ChenGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology and Molecular Diagnostics, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, School of Medical Technology, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, People's Republic of China.
Kai CuiGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology and Molecular Diagnostics, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, School of Medical Technology, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, People's Republic of China.
Wanjun HeGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology and Molecular Diagnostics, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, School of Medical Technology, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, People's Republic of China.
Na HuangGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology and Molecular Diagnostics, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, School of Medical Technology, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, People's Republic of China.
Guangxian XuGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology and Molecular Diagnostics, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, School of Medical Technology, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, People's Republic of China. xuguangxian@gdmu.edu.cn.

Funding

Discipline Construction Project of Guangdong Medical University 2051K20220006Doctoral Initial Funding of Guangdong Medical University 4SG23190G, GDMU2022030Dongguan Social Development Science and Technology Project 20231800940642GuangDong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation 2023A1515140148High-level Talent Research Funding Program of the First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University GCC2023004
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The adoption of three-dimensional (3D) cell culture systems represents a critical advancement in biomedical research, better mimicking complex 3D tissue environments than traditional two-dimensional (2D) models. However, variability in experimental outcomes has limited their reproducibility and clinical translation. Here, we systematically analyzed 32,000 spheroid images to identify key parameters influencing 3D model reliability. Our large-scale analysis revealed that oxygen levels significantly affect spheroid size and necrosis, while media composition (e.g., glucose and calcium concentrations) and serum levels (0-20%) critically regulate cell viability and structural integrity. For instance, spheroids cultured in 3% oxygen exhibited reduced dimensions and increased necrosis, whereas serum concentrations above 10% promoted dense spheroid formation with distinct necrotic and proliferative zones. By integrating single-cell RNA sequencing and automated image analysis, we uncovered dynamic gene expression patterns linked to spheroid maturation and hypoxia. These findings provide actionable guidelines for standardizing 3D culture protocols, addressing critical reproducibility challenges. Our work establishes a robust framework to enhance the reliability of 3D models in drug testing, personalized medicine, and tumor biology, facilitating their broader adoption in translational research.

Indexed as

Cell Culture TechniquesCell Culture Techniques, Three DimensionalSpheroids, CellularCell Line, TumorCell SurvivalCulture MediaHumansOxygenReproducibility of ResultsCulture MediaOxygen2D cell culture systems3D cell culture systemsExperimental conditionsReproducibilityStandardization

Identifiers

PMID40118968
PMCPMC11928536

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.