White Paper

From Cells To Organs – The Organoid Stepping-Stone

Source: Sartorius
Stem cells iStock-500390921

In recent years, biomedical research has pushed the limits of 2D cell culture to develop more advanced models for studying developmental biology and disease-modelling and also to identify more efficient tissue-replacement therapies. Of particular interest in these areas is tailored 3D cell culture approaches that give rise to organ-like structures known as “organoids”. In vitro organoid formation was first observed in epithelial cells that were embedded in extracellular matrix hydrogels. Anchored in the hydrogels, the cells self-organized into tissue structures composed of a heterogeneous cell population ¹-². Further analysis revealed that the tissue structures and cell types present resembled what was typically seen with in vivo organ structures (e.g., kidney epithelial cells formed tubules). Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), with their unique ability to differentiate and specialize into all the cell types of the body (referred to as pluripotency), have been singled out as the most promising starting cell type source for building organoids.

PSCs are characterized by the ability to asymmetrically divide into an identical daughter cell (known as self-renewal) or a more specialized progenitor cell that can further differentiate into a specialized tissue cell. Pluripotent stem cells include embryonic stem cells (ESCs) that are derived from the inner cell mass of a day-5 blastocyst and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that arise from somatic cells genetically reprogramed to a pluripotent stem cell state. With appropriate signal stimuli in 3D in vitro culture systems, pluripotent stem cells can readily develop into organoids.

access the White Paper!

Get unlimited access to:

Trend and Thought Leadership Articles
Case Studies & White Papers
Extensive Product Database
Members-Only Premium Content
Welcome Back! Please Log In to Continue. X

Enter your credentials below to log in. Not yet a member of Cell & Gene? Subscribe today.

Subscribe to Cell & Gene X

Please enter your email address and create a password to access the full content, Or log in to your account to continue.

or

Subscribe to Cell & Gene