Fig. 1. The illustration demonstrates the need to establish a reliable platform that mimics the 3D environments essential for β cells to screen prodrugs (e.g., β cell–targeted harmine).

Single use bioreactors (e.g., SF) are able to culture SC β cells and mimic native β cell environments, however, are not amenable to high-throughput screening. When screening β cell–targeted drugs, 2D screening platforms do not mimic in vivo conditions, especially cell-cell interactions, and zinc ion levels, which hinder reliable screening of prodrugs. Therefore, a 3D screening platform is needed for developing prodrugs that can mimic native β cell environments with the ability to accommodate 2D screening methods.