3D Cell Cultures: Evolution of an Ancient Tool for New Applications
Recently, research is undergoing a drastic change in the application of the animal model as a unique investigation strategy, considering an alternative approach for the development of science for the future. Although conventional monolayer cell cultures represent an established and widely used in vi...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.836480/full |
| _version_ | 1817971410130173952 |
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| author | Andrea Cacciamali Riccardo Villa Silvia Dotti |
| author_facet | Andrea Cacciamali Riccardo Villa Silvia Dotti |
| author_sort | Andrea Cacciamali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Recently, research is undergoing a drastic change in the application of the animal model as a unique investigation strategy, considering an alternative approach for the development of science for the future. Although conventional monolayer cell cultures represent an established and widely used in vitro method, the lack of tissue architecture and the complexity of such a model fails to inform true biological processes in vivo. Recent advances in cell culture techniques have revolutionized in vitro culture tools for biomedical research by creating powerful three-dimensional (3D) models to recapitulate cell heterogeneity, structure and functions of primary tissues. These models also bridge the gap between traditional two-dimensional (2D) single-layer cultures and animal models. 3D culture systems allow researchers to recreate human organs and diseases in one dish and thus holds great promise for many applications such as regenerative medicine, drug discovery, precision medicine, and cancer research, and gene expression studies. Bioengineering has made an important contribution in the context of 3D systems using scaffolds that help mimic the microenvironments in which cells naturally reside, supporting the mechanical, physical and biochemical requirements for cellular growth and function. We therefore speak of models based on organoids, bioreactors, organ-on-a-chip up to bioprinting and each of these systems provides its own advantages and applications. All of these techniques prove to be excellent candidates for the development of alternative methods for animal testing, as well as revolutionizing cell culture technology. 3D systems will therefore be able to provide new ideas for the study of cellular interactions both in basic and more specialized research, in compliance with the 3R principle. In this review, we provide a comparison of 2D cell culture with 3D cell culture, provide details of some of the different 3D culture techniques currently available by discussing their strengths as well as their potential applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T20:46:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-07a56e00be694cc3b5067344fb5ffad5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T20:46:49Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-07a56e00be694cc3b5067344fb5ffad52022-12-22T02:30:39ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2022-07-011310.3389/fphys.2022.8364808364803D Cell Cultures: Evolution of an Ancient Tool for New ApplicationsAndrea CacciamaliRiccardo VillaSilvia DottiRecently, research is undergoing a drastic change in the application of the animal model as a unique investigation strategy, considering an alternative approach for the development of science for the future. Although conventional monolayer cell cultures represent an established and widely used in vitro method, the lack of tissue architecture and the complexity of such a model fails to inform true biological processes in vivo. Recent advances in cell culture techniques have revolutionized in vitro culture tools for biomedical research by creating powerful three-dimensional (3D) models to recapitulate cell heterogeneity, structure and functions of primary tissues. These models also bridge the gap between traditional two-dimensional (2D) single-layer cultures and animal models. 3D culture systems allow researchers to recreate human organs and diseases in one dish and thus holds great promise for many applications such as regenerative medicine, drug discovery, precision medicine, and cancer research, and gene expression studies. Bioengineering has made an important contribution in the context of 3D systems using scaffolds that help mimic the microenvironments in which cells naturally reside, supporting the mechanical, physical and biochemical requirements for cellular growth and function. We therefore speak of models based on organoids, bioreactors, organ-on-a-chip up to bioprinting and each of these systems provides its own advantages and applications. All of these techniques prove to be excellent candidates for the development of alternative methods for animal testing, as well as revolutionizing cell culture technology. 3D systems will therefore be able to provide new ideas for the study of cellular interactions both in basic and more specialized research, in compliance with the 3R principle. In this review, we provide a comparison of 2D cell culture with 3D cell culture, provide details of some of the different 3D culture techniques currently available by discussing their strengths as well as their potential applications.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.836480/fullin vitro3D cell culturebioreactorsorgan-on-a-chiporganoids |
| spellingShingle | Andrea Cacciamali Riccardo Villa Silvia Dotti 3D Cell Cultures: Evolution of an Ancient Tool for New Applications Frontiers in Physiology in vitro 3D cell culture bioreactors organ-on-a-chip organoids |
| title | 3D Cell Cultures: Evolution of an Ancient Tool for New Applications |
| title_full | 3D Cell Cultures: Evolution of an Ancient Tool for New Applications |
| title_fullStr | 3D Cell Cultures: Evolution of an Ancient Tool for New Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | 3D Cell Cultures: Evolution of an Ancient Tool for New Applications |
| title_short | 3D Cell Cultures: Evolution of an Ancient Tool for New Applications |
| title_sort | 3d cell cultures evolution of an ancient tool for new applications |
| topic | in vitro 3D cell culture bioreactors organ-on-a-chip organoids |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.836480/full |
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