Introduction to Organoid technology
By: Sze Mai Ng
Tags: Articles, Biotechnology, Organoid, Medicine, Medtech

Introduction to Organoid technology

O rganoid technology has been developing in recent years to overcome the challenges brought about while conducting investigations on human biology using previous model systems such as 2D cell printing and animal models. Its influences on modelling disease progression, personalised and regenerative medicine are far-reaching and provide new insights towards our understanding of the human body. Sze Mai Ng Dec 22, 2020·2 min read

Intestinal organoid. Taken from: https://www.stemcell.com/technical-resources/area-of-interest/organoid-research.html

Model systems of the human body have been used in the past to facilitate understanding of signalling mechanisms at the cellular level, to aid in understanding of pathophysiology for diseases and development in targeted drugs.

However, previous model systems have limitations, such as inaccurate result extrapolation from animals to humans, ethical dilemmas, as well as the inability of 2D cell printing to show cellular self-organisation in the way our organs work. This leads to the need for 3D culture systems — organoids.

Organoids are derived from stem cells. Through creating a suitable environment ex-vivo, stem cells are stimulated to divide indefinitely and differentiate into different cell types, which self-organise into miniature organs that resemble those in the human body.

Modelling disease progression

Through monitoring the growth of organoids, which follow a developmental progression similar to an embryo, we may gain insight into the effect of pathology on embryonic development.

For example, by exposing mini-brain organoids to Zika virus, scientists have gained an understanding of the preferential neural cell targets of the virus and thus the development of microcephaly in infants born of infected women.

Personalised medicine

Creating organoids from stem cells of patients with genetic diseases and conducting drug testing on the organoids can aid in the development of personalised treatments.

In cystic fibrosis, in which ciliated cells that normally remove mucus from the interior or organs are malfunctioning, organoids with lung ciliated cells can be derived from the stem cells of an affected patient. Such organoids then undergo tests for drugs that may improve the mucus-removing function of ciliated cells derived from the patient, and thereby achieving personalisation. These specialised drugs can then be prescribed to the patient for therapeutic purposes.

Regenerative medicine

Another application of organoid technology is potential transplantations of organoids to replace cells or organs damaged by irreversible progressive diseases.

New studies have shown that organoids grown in-vivo from intestinal stem cells may be engrafted to reconstruct certain structures in the intestine,to provide therapeutic effect for patients suffering from ulcerative colitis, a major branch of inflammatory bowel disease.

The application of technologies and experimental procedures developed in traditional model systems to human organoid systems can enhance our understanding of medicine through validations and rejection of hypotheses. It is believed that rapid technological advances in the field of organoids can lead to unprecedented opportunities.