Possibilities of use of 3D cultures
3D models such as spheroids and organoids present innumerous advantages
as research tools, since they predict more vividly human responses due
to the structural complexity, as well as mechanical, biochemical and
integrative aspects (Bhatia and Ingber, 2014). Besides the capacity of
offering microphysiological environments that mimic in vivo morphology
and function, resembling tissues and organs, 3D models also allow
researchers to monitor activities and responses in real time, such as
medical interactions or external interferences. So far, considering the
enormous range of tissues and organs that can be replicated using 3D
models, both spheroids and organoids have proved to be handful for a
diversity of researches, including development, drug screenings, disease
mechanisms and organization aspects (Little, 2017).
Although the immediate assumption of use of 3D cultures in general for
research, it must be considered that they also hold promise of being
used as reparative tool in the case of damaged tissue (Perkhofer et al.,
2018). Since it is possible to derive organoids from patients, and thus
generate patient-specific cultures, and the fact that it is possible to
genetically manipulate the culture, soon we hope to observe more cases
in which 3D cultivated cells are used as regenerative medicine
approaches, including genetic manipulation for diseases to which there
is no effective treatment nor cure (Costa et al., 2018).
Nevertheless, some limiting aspects must be considered when working with
3D cultures. One of the main limitations is the ethic concern, such as
the one that emerges in case of using PSCs of embryonic origin; under
this aspect, it is possible to turn to iPSCs or ATCs (Simunovic and
Brivanlou, 2017). Another point is the establishment of cerebral
organoids with functional and firing neurons that present synapses, and
how the cerebral-like culture could present moral status (Little, 2017;
Munsie et al., 2017). The financial demand to generate and maintain some
cultures must also be taken as a possible limitation (Verjans et al.,
2018), since some of the required components, such as Matrigel and
growth factors, along with some specific cell lineages, can end up in a
large sum. In addition, some research groups report difficulties in
regard to reproducibility and instability of culture, what depends
directly on protocol patterning and validation, but also good
laboratorial practices (Costa et al., 2018; Little, 2017; Perkhofer et
al., 2018).