Medical research and alternatives to animal experiments
Further application fields of 3D in vitro tissue models are research on disease pathology, pharmacological research and research on alternative systems to animal experiments.
The 3D cell culture is a promising new technology for research and replacement of animal experiments, because the 3D architecture does not only allow for direct contact between cells via cell-cell junctions but also enables communication through the exchange of nutrients and signaling molecules, thereby resembling key characteristics of a natural organism.
The implementation of 3D techniques as alternatives to animal testing is currently advanced in fields such as toxicology, eye irritation, skin corrosion/irritation and vaccine development.