Organoids: An invaluable tool in pharmacology

Abstract

Advances in stem cell cultures and human-induced pluripotent stem cells have inculcated interests in a rapidly evolving concept – ”organoids.” These are three-dimensional (3D) structures mimicking some of the phenomena of the real organs at anatomical, multicellular, and functional levels in vitro . Organoids have been proven to be better than two-dimensional cell culture in replicating the functionality, architectural, and geometrical features of tissues in vivo . Recent advancements have led to the generation of models for organ development and disease, finding applications in the drug discovery, screening of novel compounds, and personalized medicine. Since organoids follow the same natural pathway as the normal tissue or pathology, they can be used to study the expression of various genotypes and phenotypic variations across different species. In the light of these advancements, organoids are now being merged with bioengineering to come up with even better and reliable models to predict the disease progression and effectiveness of precision medicines, few of its important applications. This article discusses the various aspects of this emerging concept along with its uses, both in the present times and near future, with a special focus on pharmacological applications.

Organoid Technology: A Reliable Developmental Biology Tool for Organ-Specific Nanotoxicity Evaluation

“…Organoid technology provides several advantages over conventional approaches such as the following: it not only mimics the near-physiological organ system by restoring much of the structural and functional characters of the real organ but also bears significant cellular heterogeneity, similar architecture barriers, and intercellular communication machinery providing an analogous developmental model to extend direct access for target study ( Ootani et al, 2009 ; Takahashi, 2018 ; Xu et al, 2018a ; Bar-Ephraim et al, 2019 ; Co et al, 2019 ; Schutgens et al, 2019 ; Balakrishnan et al, 2020 ; Kim et al, 2020 ; Liu et al, 2021 ). Further, no native immune system, lack of vasculature networks, false migratory behavior of tumor cells under variable conditions and drug influence, limited cytokine production, variation in signaling networks, and dissimilar adhesion molecule expression from the real one are certain basic limitations of cell culture-based toxicity experiments which can be addressed by the organoid model ( Astashkina and Grainger, 2014 ).…”