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. 2024 Jul 17;12(7):1586. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines12071586

Table 3.

Comparison of in vitro models showing advantages and disadvantages.

Model Advantages Disadvantages
2D cell culture
  • -

    Fast proliferation

  • -

    Easy culture set-up

  • -

    Very good reproducibility

  • -

    Suitable for high throughput

  • -

    Relatively low cost

  • -

    Monolayer system

  • -

    Absent concentration gradient

  • -

    Different cellular morphology and molecular mechanisms vs. in vivo

  • -

    Limited cell–matrix interactions

3D matrix cell culture
  • -

    Better mimicking of tissue stiffness

  • -

    Good cell–matrix interactions

  • -

    Possibility of co-culture systems

  • -

    Presence of concentration gradients

  • -

    Similar morphological and physiological characteristics compared to in vivo

  • -

    Complex culture set-up

  • -

    Most models do not fully reconstitute all cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions, or functionality, of the skin

  • -

    Skilled personnel are required

  • -

    Expensive

3D bioprinting
  • -

    Custom-made architecture

  • -

    Multiple co-culture possibilities

  • -

    Better reproduction of tissue heterogeneity

  • -

    High-throughput production

  • -

    Limited choice of materials which depend on the bioprinting system

  • -

    More expensive