3D CELL CULTURE MARKET ANALYSIS

Market Challenges And Opportunities

Global 3D Cell Culture Market - Drivers

• Increasing product launches by key companies: Market players are continually introducing new and innovative 3D cell culture products, including specialized scaffolds, culture plates, bioreactors, and microfluidic devices. These offerings cater to the diverse research needs of scientists studying different tissues, diseases, and applications. For instance, on June 26, 2023, 3DBioFibR, a prominent pioneer in the field of tissue engineering, announced its plan to launch a pair of fresh collagen fiber offerings: μCollaFibR and the CollaFibR 3D scaffold. These products are crafted using 3DBioFibR's exclusive and innovative dry-spinning technology, designed to produce collagen fibers on a commercial scale. Additionally, on February 21, 2023, TheWell Bioscience, a leading player in the field of 3D cell culture platforms, introduced an innovatively designed cell harvesting solution. Known as the VitroGel Organoid Recovery Solution, it stands as a pioneering achievement - the first solution capable of successfully recovering organoids from both animal-derived extracellular matrices (ECM) and synthetic VitroGel hydrogels.
• Increasing R&D activities in 3D cell culture: The increasing R&D activities in 3D cell culture is expected to aid in growth of the global 3D cell culture market, over the forecast period. For instance, in August 2020, researchers at Okayama University created a new 3D cell culture model of pancreatic cancer that closely mimics the 'fibrotic' tissue characteristically observed in patients. Moreover, on March 31 2023, ZEISS, a Germany-based manufacturer of optical systems and optoelectronics, invested in the life science start-up, InSphero to enhance the use of 3D microtissues in research and medication development. The latest fundraising round for InSphero AG, a leader in 3D spheroid and cell-based assays for pharmaceutical drug discovery and safety assessment, saw the company raise an eight-figure sum.
• Rising prevalence of cancer and infectious diseases: The rising incidence of cancer and infectious diseases has significantly contributed to the growth of the 3D cell culture market. For instance, according to report by WHO in September 2022, Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) kill 41 million people each year, equivalent to 74% of all deaths globally. Each year, 17 million people die from a NCD before age 70; 86% of these premature deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Cardiovascular diseases account for most NCD deaths, or 17.9 million people annually, followed by cancers (9.3 million), chronic respiratory diseases (4.1 million), and diabetes (2.0 million including kidney disease deaths caused by diabetes). 3D cell culture is an innovative technique that allows cells to grow and interact in an environment that closely resembles the in vivo conditions of tissues and organs. This technology offers several advantages over traditional 2D cell culture, particularly when studying complex diseases like cancer and infectious diseases.

Global 3D Cell Culture Market: Key Trends

• Development of Organ-on-a-Chip and microfluidics: The development of organ-on-a-chip and microfluidic systems gained traction. These platforms provide more advanced and complex 3D cell culture environments, enabling researchers to mimic the interactions between different tissues and organs more accurately. For instance, in December, 2022, Emulate, Inc., the leading provider of next-generation in vitro models, announced the publication of a landmark study, “Performance assessment and economic analysis of a human Liver-Chip for predictive toxicology,” in Nature Communications Medicine demonstrating that the Emulate human Liver-Chip could improve patient safety and reduce small-molecule clinical trial failures due to liver toxicity by up to 87%. Furthermore, in March 2022,       Draper, a leading provider of organ-on-a-chip and bioprocessing systems, announced a roadmap for its organ-on-a-chip technology that addresses the growing focus on targeted and advanced therapeutics within drug development.
• Advancements in 3D bioprinting technology: 3D bioprinting technology continued to advance, allowing researchers to create intricate 3D structures using cell-laden bioinks. Bioprinting offered precise control over cell placement and architecture, making it valuable for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. For instance, in January 2021, 3D Systems, a company that engineers, manufactures, and sells 3D technologies announced its decision to significantly expand its development efforts focused on regenerative medicine and bioprinting solutions.

Global 3D Cell Culture Market: Restraint

• High costs of implementing 3D cell culture technologies: 3D cell culture market is growing rapidly due to its advantages over 2D cell culture and the ban on animal testing in several countries. However, the high cost of implementing 3D cell culture technologies is a major challenge to the growth of the market. The cost of these technologies can vary depending on various factors, such as the complexity of the system, the scale of production, and the specific requirements of the application. The 3D cell culture laboratory includes various instruments and consumables used for the development of 3D cell models, such as CO2 incubators, bioreactors, microfluidic devices, and specialized imaging systems. The cost of these instruments can range from a few thousand dollars to several hundred thousand dollars, depending on their complexity and functionality. For example, a basic CO2 incubator can cost around USD 2,000, whereas bioreactors can range from USD 10,000 to more than USD 100,000. The cost of cell culture depends on the cell source and maintenance requirements. Cell lines obtained from commercial repositories can range from a few hundred to more than a thousand US dollars per vial, depending on their characteristics and usage restrictions. Primary cells can be more expensive due to complexities in isolation and characterization.
• Complexity and standardization of 3D cell culture: 3D cell culture techniques can be more complex than traditional 2D cell culture methods, requiring specialized equipment and expertise. The lack of standardized protocols and variability in results between laboratories posed challenges for reproducibility and comparison of data. Furthermore, the lack of consistency between wells and batches of cell culture are the other major barriers in the adoption of 3D cell culture techniques. Researchers face several problems while inserting scaffold/ECM into microplate wells. This inconsistency in the products reduces the reproducibility of results and, thus, reduces the efficiency of the research.