TABLE 1.

Differences between 2D culture and 3D culture in cellular characteristics.

Parameter	2D culture	3D culture
Cell morphology	Flat	Close to in vivo morphology
Cell growth	Rapid cell proliferation; Contact inhibition	Slow cell proliferation
Cell function	Functional simplification	Close to in vivo cell function
Cell communication	Limited cell-cell communication	Cell-cell communication, cell-matrix communication
Cell polarity and differentiation	Lack of polarity or even disappearance; incomplete differentiation	Maintain polarity; Normal differentiation