Individual cell-based simulation of 3D multicellular spheroid self-assembly

We present a three-dimensional agent-based, biophysical model to study the in vitro self-assembly of multicellular spheroids. We investigate how the collective cell migration and pattern formation originate in the behavior of a collection of individuals, each of which responds to a number of physical forces, such as specific and nonspecific adhesion forces between cells and cell-substrate; repulsive force between cells, resistance force between cell-ECM and cell-substrate. METHODS: Computer simulation is implemented by solving over-damping type equations for individual cell. We study, by variation of cell-specific parameters, which of them affect the spatial-temporal organization and self-aggregation. RESULTS: Self-aggregation of DU 145 human