Abstract:

Scalable three-dimensional (3D) microtissue platforms are redefining preclinical research by combining human biological relevance with the operational robustness required for industrial workflows. One of the most impactful areas has been drug-induced liver injury (DILI) prediction, where standardized 3D liver microtissues enable large-scale, reproducible safety assessment with improved sensitivity and specificity compared to conventional 2D assays or animal models. Recent advances in automation, quality control, and data analytics have allowed thousands of compounds to be screened with high consistency, supporting safer drug development and enabling earlier decision making.

Building on this foundation, 3D platforms are now expanding toward immune–islet co-culture models to tackle complex diseases such as type 1 diabetes (T1D). By integrating functional islets with immune components in standardized, automation-compatible workflows, researchers can interrogate immune-mediated β-cell destruction in a reproducible and scalable manner.

Together, these examples illustrate how 3D microtissue systems are scaling from robust safety testing to sophisticated, human-relevant disease models, accelerating the transition away from animal testing and supporting both industrial and translational research with predictive, reproducible, and operationally efficient solutions.