Replacing Animal Testing with Stem Cell-Organoids : Advantages and Limitations

Abstract

Various groups including animal protection organizations, medical organizations, research centers, and even federal agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, are working to minimize animal use in scientific experiments. This movement primarily stems from animal welfare and ethical concerns. However, recent advances in technology and new studies in medicine have contributed to an increase in animal experiments throughout the years. With the rapid increase in animal testing, concerns arise including ethical issues, high cost, complex procedures, and potential inaccuracies.Alternative solutions have recently been investigated to address the problems of animal testing. Some of these technologies are related to stem cell technologies, such as organ-on-a-chip, organoids, and induced pluripotent stem cell models. The aim of the review is to focus on stem cell related methodologies, such as organoids, that can serve as an alternative to animal testing and discuss its advantages and limitations, alongside regulatory considerations.Although stem cell related methodologies has shortcomings, it has potential to replace animal testing. Achieving this requires further research on stem cells, with potential societal and technological benefits.

Keywords: Animal Testing Alternatives; Animal Testing law; Organ-on-chips; Organoids; Stem Cell; iPSC.

Fig. 1

(A) Procedure of new drug approval as stated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In the preclinical research stage, small, medium, and large animals are usually used for testing new drugs. (B) iPSCs that can replacing animal testing. PBMCs or fibroblasts are reprogrammed to iPSCs and subsequently differentiated into target modeling cells such as neurons, cardiomyocytes, and hepatocytes. (C) iPSC-derived 3D organoids enable in vitro efficacy and safety testing. Organ-on-a-chip embedded with organoids used in in vitro tests, created using BioRender

Fig. 2

A BioRender diagram depicts diverse stem cell technologies for human organs