What is cell culture and how does the 2D-method work?

Content

1. What actually is cell culture?
2. Which cell types are used for cell cultures?
   1. Fibroblasts
   2. Epithelial cells
   3. Endothelial cells
   4. Stem cells
3. Which cell culture methods are there?
4. What do I need for a cell culture?
   1. Temperature/CO2/Moisture
   2. Nutrients and medium
   3. Culture vessels and a sterile workbench
5. Troubleshooting: What can go wrong and how to fix it
   1. Mycoplasma
   2. Microbial contamination
   3. Cross contamination

What actually is cell culture?

A cell culture is the growth of plant and animal cells outside of an organism under controlled conditions. The reason why cell culture is so popular is because by using mammal cells, for example, the use of animal tests can be reduced or completely avoided. In addition, certain hormones important to humans, such as insulin, can be produced quickly and easily from animal cells. Furthermore, particularly in medical research, by using cell cultures it has been possible to find out much about the behavior of cancer cells. Accordingly, there are a large number of possibilities, which is why more and more researchers are opting for this topic.

This basic paper shows only a small section of this field of research and is intended to give an initial insight into this interesting world. In the following chapters, different types of cell culture, different cell forms, the most important materials, and a short introduction to troubleshooting in the cell culture are presented.