What is the Difference Between Monolayer and Suspension Culture?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between monolayer and suspension culture lies in the manner in which cells are grown and their dependence on a substrate for attachment. Here are the key differences between the two:
Monolayer Culture:
- Also known as adherent culture.
- Cells are grown in a single layer on a flask.
- Anchorage-dependent culture, requiring a substrate for attachment.
- Appropriate for most cell types, including primary cultures.
- Requires periodic passaging, allowing easy visual inspection under a microscope.
Suspension Culture:
- Cells are grown as free-floating aggregates in a culture medium.
- Anchorage-independent culture, not requiring a substrate for attachment.
- Appropriate for cells adapted to suspension culture and a few other cell lines that are nonadhesive (e.g., hematopoietic cells).
Both monolayer and suspension cultures are used in tissue culture and are grown on suitable culture media. However, the cells in a monolayer culture grow attached to the surface of the flask, while those in a suspension culture grow without requiring a substrate. Monolayer cultures are more suitable for most cell types, whereas suspension cultures are ideal for cells that do not require a substrate for attachment.
Comparative Table: Monolayer vs Suspension Culture
Here is a table comparing monolayer and suspension cultures:
| Feature | Monolayer Culture | Suspension Culture |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | An anchorage-dependent culture where cells are grown attached to a substrate. | An anchorage-independent culture where cells grow without the help of a substrate. |
| Requirements | Requires a tissue culture treated vessel with periodic passaging. | Can be achieved by non-tissue culture treated vessels. |
| Growth Limitations | Growth is limited by the surface area, which directly affects the yield. | Growth limitation takes place by the concentration of cells in the medium. |
| Cell Dissociation | Cell dissociation occurs mechanically or enzymatically. | Cells do not form monolayers on the surface of cell culture vessels, but remain in suspension. |
| Cell Type | Mostly used for adherent or anchorage-dependent cells. | Suitable for cells that can grow in suspension, such as hematopoietic cell lines and some insect cell lines. |
| Confluence | The percentage of the culture vessel surface area covered by a layer of cells. | Cell density is used to describe cells that are grown in suspension. |
Both monolayer and suspension cultures are types of cell cultures used for various research purposes. While monolayer cultures are anchorage-dependent and require a substrate for cell growth, suspension cultures are anchorage-independent and allow cells to grow without a substrate.
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