Three-dimensional cell culture: From evolution to revolution

Abstract

Recent advances in the isolation of tissue-resident adult stem cells and the identification of inductive factors that efficiently direct differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) along specific lineages have facilitated the development of high-fidelity modelling of several tissues in vitro. Many of the novel approaches used have employed self-organising three-dimensional (3D) culturing of organoids, which offer several advantages over conventional two-dimentional platforms. Organoid technologies hold great promises for modelling diseases and predicting the outcome of drug responses in vitro. Here, we outline the historical background and some of the recent advances in the field of 3D organoids. We also highlight some of the current limitations of these systems and discuss potential avenues to further benefit biological research using 3D modelling technologies.