11+ Pros and Cons of Organoids (Explained)

Organoids refer to cell cultures that are three- dimensional and mimic the architecture of tissues. There is an increasing importance that is growing in numerous fields of research, which are named ‘Methods of the Year 2017’ along with the use of it in drugs, while testing them.

There is a huge growth in the market or potential market for these 3- dimensional cultures of cells. The most important thing to keep in mind is that the models related to these, has brought forth the ability of the cell, by which, it differentiates and also self- organizes.

Table of Contents

Pros of Organoids

Not at all an average culture

Organoids refer to an up gradation from a traditional and primary culture, to a grown monolayer in a tissue flask culture.

The difference for organoids is that the cells are first grown within a basement membrane gel, and later on, developed into few 3D shaped cell cultures. These are primarily made in the hollow and budding spheres.

The cells are then seeded into the type of cultural system, as can be selected or even unselected, in order to reflect the heterogeneity of the cells of the patient.

Morphology

Organoids go forth in offering a higher degree of morphologies just when an individual is known to be indulged to the study done on glandular tissues.

However, there is not much suitable studying methodology to study stratified tissues, such as those available on the skin. In originality, the growth of these organoid cultures were done, in order to differentiate normal cellular structures in the prostate and the breast.

They are being used as a model of tumor, which is debatable, as the influence of the basement membrane gel is yet not identified. Out of all, one classic definition of growth in the tumor would be the independence with regard to anchorage.

Yet, organoids refer to the cell cultures that are dependent on anchorage due to their nature of having adherence to the proteins in the gel of the basement membrane.

Removes contaminants

The cultures derived from the tissues are known to contain a mixture of cell types, such as, stromal or epithelial. Neighboring tissues may cause contamination of tissues, while in the technique of sampling.

When there in an usage in organoids, it often becomes very imperative in the process of confirming the absence of every potential contaminant available around.

Cons of Organoids

Heterogeneity

Though heterogeneity is caused on a frequent basis, and as they are reported to have positive aspects of spheroid cultures, it may also be considered to be negative. If one, while testing a drug, wants to come across the effects on a heterogeneous culture of cells, it can be considered positive.

Nevertheless, during an investigation of the mechanism of action of a drug and the testing of which drug is targetable, bringing to use the heterogeneous mix of cells, do not produce any result.

It is also suggested from works, that, one can never rely on in situ genotype, while reflecting the in vitro genotype. Because seeding at high density is usually there for the cells, there is great risk that there might be a single organoid that might not be derived just from a single cell.

In case, one uses a heterogeneous mixture of different cells, it would be critical as to check if the ratio and type of cells reflect the patient or, on the other hand, it proves to be better in the usage of multiple samples, per person.

Clonic drift

Cultures that are heterogeneous, may contain clones that are different from each other. This means, as and when the culture grows, certain clones seem to dominate, whereas, the others die out.

Thus, this quality of heterogeneity, is different compared to the reproducibility of the next experiments. With the regard to the understanding of genotype and phenotype related to ones’ culture, at every passage, in order to ensure if ones’ model is fit to be applied to precision medicines, it, is important.

Validation is important:

The study of the large datasets are derived from the research on genomic and proteomic research, has enabled the understanding of the whole molecular profile of the concerned patient and helps in the establishment of personalized medicines.

Omics research has opened up to the establishment of a lot of databases to be stored in the form of information that could be used to source out and categorize research material.

The identification of a gene mutation would be very important, in a model, if it does not confirm the presence of the mutation in all the cells or even the fact as to how long will it last.

In the recent times, the validation of the pre-clinical models that are based on the evidence that is reported within the scientific publications and even the experts’ opinions are, on both ends, biased.

Along with the new advances in the Open Science movement, the scientific publications that are well known often face problems with the biases in publications. The opinions on the conflicts of interests and spin, according to expert opinion, are open to biases.

Decision making on the basis of evidence has been there for numerous years now of the quality.

Conclusion:

Thus, considering all the pros and cons of organoids, one should take a decision of whether it should be used or not, wisely!

These, as can even give benefits, can also bring one down to their knees. Thus, while taking a step towards introducing them into ones’ system, he or she should think twice. The pros as well as cons are equally fitted into ones’ life and thus, should be implanted wisely.

These organoids make a huge difference in an individual’s system by invading into it.