Using Biosensors to Study Organoids, Spheroids and Organs-on-a-Chip: A Mechanobiology Perspective

Abstract

The increasing popularity of 3D cell culture models is being driven by the demand for more in vivo-like conditions with which to study the biochemistry and biomechanics of numerous biological processes in health and disease. Spheroids and organoids are 3D culture platforms that self-assemble and regenerate from stem cells, tissue progenitor cells or cell lines, and that show great potential for studying tissue development and regeneration. Organ-on-a-chip approaches can be used to achieve spatiotemporal control over the biochemical and biomechanical signals that promote tissue growth and differentiation. These 3D model systems can be engineered to serve as disease models and used for drug screens. While culture methods have been developed to support these 3D structures, challenges remain to completely recapitulate the cell–cell and cell–matrix biomechanical interactions occurring in vivo. Understanding how forces influence the functions of cells in these 3D systems will require precise tools to measure such forces, as well as a better understanding of the mechanobiology of cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions. Biosensors will prove powerful for measuring forces in both of these contexts, thereby leading to a better understanding of how mechanical forces influence biological systems at the cellular and tissue levels. Here, we discussed how biosensors and mechanobiological research can be coupled to develop accurate, physiologically relevant 3D tissue models to study tissue development, function, malfunction in disease, and avenues for disease intervention.

Contribution of the ELRs to the development of advanced in vitro models

“…Although 3D organoid tissue models have an invaluable valor to study several biological processes, several techniques such as immunostaining, mechanosensing, mechanotransduction and optical strategies have been refined over the years for application in 2D cultures ( Yousafzai and Hammer, 2023 ). For this reason, current limitations in processing organoids limit the capacity for higher-throughput analysis.…”

Peptide-Hitchhiking for the Development of Nanosystems in Glioblastoma

“…Improved models that faithfully mimic the complexities of the human brain are essential for obtaining meaningful insights into the performance, safety, and efficacy of these nanocarriers . Organ-on-chip systems, organoids, and patient-derived xenograft models represent cutting-edge approaches that offer enhanced predictive capabilities, bringing us closer to translating preclinical findings into successful clinical outcomes. ,− Scale-up, a pivotal aspect of clinical translation, introduces additional challenges in the context of peptide-decorated nanocarriers . Meeting regulatory standards is essential in nanomedicine development.…”

Organoids, Biocybersecurity, and Cyberbiosecurity—A Light Exploration

“…This technology could advance biosensing platforms that detect and process environmental changes [19,20]. In medical diagnostics, such systems could process physiological data for real-time monitoring [21][22][23][24]. Biocomputing has been utilized in various capacities for many years to better identify clues to disease states in the body and also supports synthetic biology, especially in designing and modeling new biological systems [16,[25][26][27][28][29].…”

“…By the early 2020s, organoid intelligence had become a key player in personalized medicine [18]. It marks a significant step toward functional and implantable organ-like forms, wherein treatments can be specifically designed and tested to suit an individual's unique genetic makeup [5][6][7][8][9][10][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]35,62,[94][95][96][97][98].…”