Specific Organ Models

Culture Conditions

Organoids are derived from stem cells and cultured in very specialized media to ensure proper organoid growth and development. This is achieved by optimizing the cultivation and growth conditions, such as providing a basement membrane substrate and adding a range of agonists (such as Wnt and tyrosine kinase receptors) and inhibitors (such as bone morphogenetic protein/transforming growth factor - β).

Structure

Organoids rely on complex self-organizing processes to form 'micro-organs'. On the contrary, when physical or mechanical forces (such as stirring) are applied, primary cells produce multicellular structures through simple intercellular adhesion, resembling spheres rather than organlike structures.

Biobanking

The organoids have been successfully cryopreserved and can be used as in vivo biobanks for in vitro preservation without damaging their genome and morphological characteristics. This makes the biobank available for repeated research.

In contrast, primary cells are more like a one-time solution. Although primary cells can be frozen for repeat studies, they are more difficult to successfully revive, so repeat studies require returning to the original tumor tissue to re drive the cells.

Long Term Maintenance

In the long run, in vitro expansion of cultured cells requires an immature population of stem cells to replenish dying cells. Due to the fact that organoids originate from and maintain a population of stem cells during in vitro culture, this ensures their long-term survival ability. Organoids also retain cellular composition, structure, and genetic characteristics during multiple passages.