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Talking Techniques | Organoids: advancing drug discovery and cancer research

Cancer research Cell and tissue biology Drug discovery and development

As the transition from 2D to 3D cell cultures, or organoids, as the gold standard for modeling basic biology and disease continues, these models are being utilized in ever more intricate and impactful ways.

This episode covers the rise of organoids and their advantages over 2D cell cultures, before exploring just how representative these models are becoming and their new applications in drug discovery. To discuss all this and more, I speak to Oksana Sirenko, Senior Scientist at Molecular Devices, who works extensively with the company’s organoid model development programs.

Oksana reveals the potential of these models in cancer therapeutics, driven forward by new patient-derived organoids, and notes the challenges presented by imaging these thicker, 3D models. We also explore the potential discoveries that can be unlocked by combining organoids with organ-on-a-chip models.

Contents:

  • What are organoids? 02:10-03:20
  • Functions replicated by organoids? 3:20-04:00
  • What are the advantages of 3D over 2D cell cultures? 04:00-05:40
  • Just how representative are these models? 04:40-07:10
  • Intestinal organoid formation 07:10-08:50
  • The most exciting application of organoids 08:50-10:10
  • Organoids in drug development 10:10-11:20
  • Methodology of organoids in drug screening studies 11:20-13:30
  • Examples of organoids in cancer drug discovery: 13:30-16:00
  • Limitations of patient-derived and regular organoid models: 16:00-17:50
  • Body-on-a-chip concepts and examples: 17:50-22:00
  • Challenges posed by organoids for drug discovery: 22:00-24:20
  • Techniques improving organoid models and analysis: 24:20-25:50
  • Imaging organoid models: 25:50-26:55
  • Tips for best practice when working with organoids: 26:55-28:20
  • Organoid method development: 28:20-31:10
  • One thing to improve organoid models or analysis for drug screening: 31:10-33:07

To find out more about the research and solutions discussed in this episode visit: www.moleculardevices.com/TechTalk8.