Formation of C2C12 myoblast spheroids by hanging drop method: role of initial cell density and culture time in myogenesis
Abstract
Spheroids offer significant advantages over two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures by providing a three-dimensional (3D) microenvironment that enhances cell-cell interactions and better mimics native architecture of the original tissue. C2C12 myoblasts, a well-established model for skeletal muscle regeneration, have been widely studied in 2D cultures, but systematic investigations into their spheroid formation and therapeutic potential for muscular injuries remain limited. In this study, hanging drop method was used for the preparation of C2C12 spheroids with different range of initial seeding densities (500–5000 cells per 30 µL drop). Compact, uniform spheroids formed at 2500 and 5000 cells per drop, with diameters around 100 µm as confirmed by optical microscopy and F-actin/DAPI staining. Immunostaining revealed that higher-density spheroids (5000 cells/drop) exhibited stronger and more localized expression of myogenic markers (MyoD and myogenin), indicating advanced differentiation compared to lower-density counterparts. The study results demonstrated that cell density and culture duration are important for the successful generation and myogenic differentiation of C2C12 spheroids. This spheroid model can be considered a potential cellular therapy platform for skeletal muscle regeneration studies.
Keywords
Project Number
Hacettepe University Scientific Researchers Project Units with Project Number FHD-2025-22010
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Animal Cell Culture and Tissue Engineering
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Publication Date
December 30, 2025
Submission Date
August 24, 2025
Acceptance Date
October 6, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2025 Number: 063
APA
Çetin Altındal, D. (2025). Formation of C2C12 myoblast spheroids by hanging drop method: role of initial cell density and culture time in myogenesis. Journal of Scientific Reports-A, 063, 14-23. https://doi.org/10.59313/jsr-a.1771330
AMA
1.Çetin Altındal D. Formation of C2C12 myoblast spheroids by hanging drop method: role of initial cell density and culture time in myogenesis. JSR-A. 2025;(063):14-23. doi:10.59313/jsr-a.1771330
Chicago
Çetin Altındal, Damla. 2025. “Formation of C2C12 Myoblast Spheroids by Hanging Drop Method: Role of Initial Cell Density and Culture Time in Myogenesis”. Journal of Scientific Reports-A, nos. 063: 14-23. https://doi.org/10.59313/jsr-a.1771330.
EndNote
Çetin Altındal D (December 1, 2025) Formation of C2C12 myoblast spheroids by hanging drop method: role of initial cell density and culture time in myogenesis. Journal of Scientific Reports-A 063 14–23.
IEEE
[1]D. Çetin Altındal, “Formation of C2C12 myoblast spheroids by hanging drop method: role of initial cell density and culture time in myogenesis”, JSR-A, no. 063, pp. 14–23, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.59313/jsr-a.1771330.
ISNAD
Çetin Altındal, Damla. “Formation of C2C12 Myoblast Spheroids by Hanging Drop Method: Role of Initial Cell Density and Culture Time in Myogenesis”. Journal of Scientific Reports-A. 063 (December 1, 2025): 14-23. https://doi.org/10.59313/jsr-a.1771330.
JAMA
1.Çetin Altındal D. Formation of C2C12 myoblast spheroids by hanging drop method: role of initial cell density and culture time in myogenesis. JSR-A. 2025;:14–23.
MLA
Çetin Altındal, Damla. “Formation of C2C12 Myoblast Spheroids by Hanging Drop Method: Role of Initial Cell Density and Culture Time in Myogenesis”. Journal of Scientific Reports-A, no. 063, Dec. 2025, pp. 14-23, doi:10.59313/jsr-a.1771330.
Vancouver
1.Damla Çetin Altındal. Formation of C2C12 myoblast spheroids by hanging drop method: role of initial cell density and culture time in myogenesis. JSR-A. 2025 Dec. 1;(063):14-23. doi:10.59313/jsr-a.1771330