Organoids are miniaturized, self-organized three-dimensional tissue units that mimic the spatial, chemical, structural, and physiological elements of in vivo tissue environments [1]. Research involving organoids is currently one of the hottest and rapidly expanding areas due to its potential and practical uses, from basic science to clinical applications, such as drug screening and toxicology, tumor models for cancer diagnosis, and models for human development and diseases [2,3,4,5,6].
This special issue brings together leading experts in the field to define this growing area. The intent of this special issue is to provide essential information and insights on how tissue and organ-specific organoids are developed and used in biomedical applications for tissue regeneration. The articles provide an update of the current and trending research that may give readers new perspectives and creative ideas for further development. This special issue consists of one original and five review articles covering platform technologies and tissue applications in the liver, brain, ovary, skeletal muscle, and tumor microenvironment (TME) such as breast cancer.
Liver tissue organoid that possesses biological and physiological functions is one of the most studied models. Lee et al. [7] highlight the development of various liver model systems and discuss the dire need to overcome the current limitations before advancing to translational applications. The authors emphasize that three-dimensional biomimetic liver models may hold great promise for biomedical applications. Another area that is actively studied recently is research using brain organoids, ranging from development processes to applications in neurological diseases. In this issue, Jeong et al. [8] cover platform technologies used to develop human brain organoids and discuss the importance of disease modeling for various pharmacological and tissue applications. In the subsequent article, Kondash et al. [9] developed human skeletal muscles composed of myobundles and tested for the metabolic function. These human myobundles serve as a useful platform for developing a human in vitro model of normal and diseased muscle. In their study, the authors evaluated glucose uptake and insulin responsiveness in human tissue-engineered skeletal muscle myobundles. This study showed that the model of human myobundles recapitulated key features of in vivo insulin sensitivity and exhibited relevant drug-mediated perturbations in contractile function and glucose metabolism.
Another research area gaining increasing attention is generating TME, an ecosystem that surrounds a tumor. The TME consists of many tissue components, including cells, extracellular matrix, vasculature, and growth factors. Tumor behavior is believed to be dependent on the interactions of the TME and cancer cells. In this special issue, Devarasetty et al. [10] present an overview of the developed TME models and point out the essential components comprising the TME. They also discuss how the TME models are applied across various cancer types to provide a foundation for future research into the TME. Using the TME models, Mertz et al. [11] examined the recent studies involving the breast tumor. Adipocytes are a cell type increasingly recognized to have complex functions in breast cancer. This article reviewed both two-dimensional and three-dimensional models of adipocytes in the breast TME and discussed how these models are related to breast tumor progression. Many technologies have been developed to facilitate the use of organoids for different applications. Microfluidic systems have emerged as a powerful tool that can closely replicate the in vivo physiological conditions of organ systems. In this issue, Sequeira et al. [12] examined how microfluidic systems can be used to study the ovarian follicle development and applied to improve the outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies (ART). The authors believe that microfluidic systems will likely play a role in revolutionizing fundamental reproductive physiology/toxicology research and clinically applicable ART.
This special issue presents perspectives on the development and application of tissue-specific organoids and how these miniature organs could provide benefits to patients and human health. Furthermore, recapitulating the TME allows for an enhanced understanding of tumor behavior and progression. Technologies, such as microfluidic systems, help provide an environment closely mimics the in vivo physiological conditions. It is believed that this special issue could serve as a useful resource for researchers and students who are interested in developing organoids for basic science and application studies.
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Acknowledgements
The editors would like to sincerely thank all the invited authors, reviewers, and editorial team at Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (TERM) for making this special issue possible. A special thanks to the Managing Editor, Ms. Jung Hyun Ahn, who has patiently provided guidance from the start to the completion of this special issue.
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Yoo, J.J., Cho, CS. & Jo, I. Applications of Organoids for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine. Tissue Eng Regen Med 17, 729–730 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-020-00315-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-020-00315-y