Organ development is a complex and intricate process that involves the coordinated differentiation, morphogenesis, and maturation of diverse populations of cells into functional organs. This process is orchestrated by dynamic gradients and combinations of growth factors, and requires long-term culture and postprocessing or maturation of naive tissues after cell seeding. Fortunately, engineering advances have enabled us to recreate various aspects of organ development in vitro, including the use of materials with tunable properties, microfluidics-based organ systems or “organs-on-a-chip,” 3D organoids, and engineering complex tissues for whole organ replacement.
Organoids: Promising Approach to Organ Development
One of the most promising approaches to organ development is the use of organoids, which are 3D cellular structures that mimic the architecture and function of in vivo organs, in part or in toto. Organoids can be used to study the development of organs in a more physiologically relevant context, as they mimic the physical, chemical, and biological interactions in natural tissues at different scales, from molecules to cells to building blocks to organized clusters.