3D cell culture is a common laboratory technique used to monitor a range of cellular processes. It serves as a more accurate model for in vivo research than conventional 2D cell culture. In order for researchers to isolate cells that exhibit a specific phenotype in 3D cell cultures, they use a technique called laser photoconversion that involves shooting a laser on target cells expressing a photoactivatable fluorescent protein. Upon photoconversion, the cells fluoresce and can be isolated using flow cytometry, so that they can be further analyzed with the goal of finding novel cancer therapeutic targets. This process is a laborious and tedious process that takes hours as shown in the video on the left.