A cell suspension refers to a liquid mixture containing individual cells that are uniformly distributed within the medium. Cell suspensions are commonly used in various laboratory and research settings, especially in cell culture, where cells are grown and maintained in a controlled environment. Cell suspensions can be derived from adherent cell cultures, tissue dissociation, or cell lines that grow in suspension.
Creating a cell suspension usually involves the following steps:
- Detachment: For adherent cells, an enzymatic or mechanical method is used to detach the cells from the surface of the culture vessel. Commonly used enzymes include trypsin or collagenase, which break down proteins involved in cell adhesion.
- Harvesting: The detached cells are collected in a suitable liquid medium, such as culture media, phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), or a specific buffer, depending on the experimental requirements.
- Mixing: The cells are gently mixed to ensure a homogeneous distribution within the medium. This can be done by gently pipetting the cell suspension up and down or using a cell scraper to dislodge any remaining cell clumps.
- Counting: The number of cells in the suspension can be determined using a hemocytometer, automated cell counter, or flow cytometry. This information is essential for seeding cells at the appropriate density, calculating cell viability, or normalizing experimental data.
Cell suspensions are widely used in various research applications, such as:
- Subculturing: Transferring cells to new culture vessels to maintain a healthy and proliferating cell population.
- Flow cytometry: Analyzing individual cells for specific markers, cell cycle stages, or cell viability.
- Cell-based assays: Performing experiments to assess cell viability, proliferation, migration, or response to various treatments.
- Cryopreservation: Storing cells at ultra-low temperatures for long-term preservation and later use.
- Single-cell analysis: Isolating and analyzing individual cells to study cellular heterogeneity or rare cell populations.
When working with cell suspensions, it is essential to maintain sterile conditions and handle cells gently to minimize stress or damage to the cells.
