Recent Advances in Three-Dimensional Multicellular Spheroid Culture and Future Development

Area of Science:

• Biomedicine
• Cell Biology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Three-dimensional multicellular spheroids (MCSs) are advanced in vitro models that mimic in vivo tissue structure and function.
• MCSs enable the study of cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions, outperforming traditional 2D models.
• They are crucial for tumor research, drug screening, tissue engineering, and fundamental biological studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current methods for generating MCSs, detailing their pros and cons.
• To highlight advancements in spheroid generation using hydrogel and microfluidic systems.
• To explore the diverse applications of MCSs, particularly in cancer research.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on MCS generation techniques.
• Analysis of hydrogel and microfluidic systems for spheroid formation.
• Examination of case studies on MCS applications in various research fields.

Main Results:

• Identification of diverse MCS generation methods with varying efficiencies and applications.
• Demonstration of hydrogel and microfluidic systems as key enabling technologies for spheroid production.
• Compilation of successful applications of MCSs in cancer research, drug screening, and tissue engineering.

Conclusions:

• Multicellular spheroids represent a significant advancement in in vitro biological modeling.
• Hydrogel and microfluidic technologies are pivotal for the scalable and controlled generation of MCSs.
• Continued development of MCSs promises to accelerate progress in biomedicine, particularly in oncology and regenerative medicine.