Effects of hydrogel stiffness and viscoelasticity on organoid culture: a comprehensive review

Abstract As an emerging technology, organoids are promising new tools for basic and translational research in disease. Currently, the culture of organoids relies mainly on a type of unknown composition scaffold, namely Matrigel, which may pose problems in studying the effect of mechanical properties...

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Main Authors: Wei Lai, Hu Geliang, Xu Bin, Wei Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:Molecular Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s10020-025-01131-7
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author Wei Lai
Hu Geliang
Xu Bin
Wei Wang
author_facet Wei Lai
Hu Geliang
Xu Bin
Wei Wang
author_sort Wei Lai
collection DOAJ
description Abstract As an emerging technology, organoids are promising new tools for basic and translational research in disease. Currently, the culture of organoids relies mainly on a type of unknown composition scaffold, namely Matrigel, which may pose problems in studying the effect of mechanical properties on organoids. Hydrogels, a new material with adjustable mechanical properties, can adapt to current studies. In this review, we summarized the synthesis of recent advance in developing definite hydrogel scaffolds for organoid culture and identified the critical parameters for regulating mechanical properties. In addition, classified by different mechanical properties like stiffness and viscoelasticity, we concluded the effect of mechanical properties on the development of organoids and tumor organoids. We hope this review enhances the understanding of the development of organoids by hydrogels and provides more practical approaches to investigating them.
format Article
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institution DOAJ
issn 1528-3658
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Molecular Medicine
spelling doaj-art-0138b9fdc8584ec89cef3d241b013c102025-08-20T02:59:54ZengBMCMolecular Medicine1528-36582025-03-0131111910.1186/s10020-025-01131-7Effects of hydrogel stiffness and viscoelasticity on organoid culture: a comprehensive reviewWei Lai0Hu Geliang1Xu Bin2Wei Wang3Department of Thoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityDepartment of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityCancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityAbstract As an emerging technology, organoids are promising new tools for basic and translational research in disease. Currently, the culture of organoids relies mainly on a type of unknown composition scaffold, namely Matrigel, which may pose problems in studying the effect of mechanical properties on organoids. Hydrogels, a new material with adjustable mechanical properties, can adapt to current studies. In this review, we summarized the synthesis of recent advance in developing definite hydrogel scaffolds for organoid culture and identified the critical parameters for regulating mechanical properties. In addition, classified by different mechanical properties like stiffness and viscoelasticity, we concluded the effect of mechanical properties on the development of organoids and tumor organoids. We hope this review enhances the understanding of the development of organoids by hydrogels and provides more practical approaches to investigating them.https://doi.org/10.1186/s10020-025-01131-7OrganoidsStiffnessViscoelasticity3D modelHydrogel
spellingShingle Wei Lai
Hu Geliang
Xu Bin
Wei Wang
Effects of hydrogel stiffness and viscoelasticity on organoid culture: a comprehensive review
Molecular Medicine
Organoids
Stiffness
Viscoelasticity
3D model
Hydrogel
title Effects of hydrogel stiffness and viscoelasticity on organoid culture: a comprehensive review
title_full Effects of hydrogel stiffness and viscoelasticity on organoid culture: a comprehensive review
title_fullStr Effects of hydrogel stiffness and viscoelasticity on organoid culture: a comprehensive review
title_full_unstemmed Effects of hydrogel stiffness and viscoelasticity on organoid culture: a comprehensive review
title_short Effects of hydrogel stiffness and viscoelasticity on organoid culture: a comprehensive review
title_sort effects of hydrogel stiffness and viscoelasticity on organoid culture a comprehensive review
topic Organoids
Stiffness
Viscoelasticity
3D model
Hydrogel
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s10020-025-01131-7
work_keys_str_mv AT weilai effectsofhydrogelstiffnessandviscoelasticityonorganoidcultureacomprehensivereview
AT hugeliang effectsofhydrogelstiffnessandviscoelasticityonorganoidcultureacomprehensivereview
AT xubin effectsofhydrogelstiffnessandviscoelasticityonorganoidcultureacomprehensivereview
AT weiwang effectsofhydrogelstiffnessandviscoelasticityonorganoidcultureacomprehensivereview