3D Cell Culture Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Technology (Scaffold-free, Scaffold-based), By Application (Cancer, Stem Cell Research), By End Use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028

Report Overview

The global 3D cell culture market size was valued at USD 1.5 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.7% during the forecast period. As 3D cultures can closely mimic a typical morphology and microarchitecture of organs, they are widely used in studies that require in vivo model systems to analyze the effects of a foreign drug over body tissues and organs. Moreover, biomimetic tissue constructs used to generate 3D organotypic structures drove a large number of research entities to adopt 3-dimensional cell culture techniques. In addition, the usage of 3D tissue-engineered models for Covid-19, cancer, and other clinical disorders has emerged as an alternative approach to traditional techniques. This also shows great potential in providing a relatively simple and inexpensive in vitro tumor-host environment compared to 2D techniques.

The high utility of 3-dimensional models for research about Covid-19 and respiratory diseases is expected to offer significant growth opportunities to the market. Airway and air-liquid interface organoids have been used as tools for the development and discovery of antiviral drugs, and as experimental virology platforms to study the immune responses and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2. Scaffold-based and scaffold-free techniques facilitate the bio-fabrication of realistic models that can be used for the development of novel therapeutics and vaccines against Covid-19.

Several other major factors driving the market growth include the launch of new products and wide applications of 3D protocols in biological research. For instance, in December 2020, eNUVIO Inc., a Canada-based biotechnology company, launched EB-Plate, a completely reusable microplate for 3D cell culture. This is expected to reduce the wastage of single-use plastics, increase the utility of 3-dimensional microplates, and propel zero-waste movement in laboratories.

Similarly, standard 2D analysis methods can easily be applied to RAFT 3D cultures manufactured by Lonza. Since these novel technologies do not require many changes to the existing 2D culture methods, they are adopted by many laboratories across the globe. In addition, Lonza has also developed 3D cell culture models to enhance research in areas of hepatic signaling pathways and drug-induced liver injury to improve in vitro hepatotoxicity testing.

Technology Insights

Scaffold-based technology accounted for the largest revenue share of over 68.96% in 2020. The use of hydrogels as scaffolds in 3-dimensional cell culture-based research enables the incorporation of sophisticated biochemical and mechanical signs as a mirror of the native extracellular matrix. Moreover, the launch of novel products and the increasing need for advancements in hydrogels for providing robust platforms for studying human and cellular physiology is expected to boost the market growth in the coming years.

In January 2021, researchers from the Southern University of Science and Technology, China developed a method for 3D printing of highly stretchable hydrogels. This helps overcome the limitations associated with the performance and functionality of hydrogel-polymer-based scaffolds. In January 2021, Adocia, a Paris-based biopharmaceutical company, developed a hydrogel scaffold that can be used for cell therapy of Type 1 diabetes.

The growing awareness, as well as popularity, of nanotechnology in biomedical research, is anticipated to create potential growth prospects for nanofiber-based scaffolds, thereby augmenting sales and demand for the scaffold-based technology. Magnetic levitational assembly of 3D tissue constructs is an emerging and fast-growing label & scaffold-free approach for tissue engineering. This is expected to drive the scaffold-free segment with the fastest CAGR over the forecast period.

Application Insights

The cancer segment dominated the market with the largest revenue share of 24.56% in 2020. The use of spheroids as model systems during the development of anticancer therapies drives R&D in this segment. Moreover, the use of 3-dimensional cellular models for the study of cancer biology in preclinical testing and screening is expected to increase revenue generation in this segment.

A January 2021 research study reported the development of polysaccharide hydrogel-based 3D printed tumor models, which can be used for high throughput screening of anti-cancer drugs. Under this study, the researchers aimed at developing hydrogel, which efficiently imitates tumor microenvironment, shows appropriate biocompatibility, rheological characteristics, and printability. Such developments lead to increased use of scaffold-based techniques for cancer.

The stem cell research segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR from 2021 to 2028. A rise in applications of 3D cell culture platforms for regenerative medicine is anticipated to propel the segment growth. In January 2020, Histogen, Inc.—a company engaged in the development of regenerative medicine—entered into a merger with Conatus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The latter exhibits a robust pipeline of unique clinical candidates, inclusive of an extracellular matrix scaffold targeted toward the treatment of conditions associated with articular cartilage.

End-use Insights

The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries segment generated the largest revenue share of over 46% in 2020. 3D cell cultures have advantages in terms of optimal oxygen and nutrient gradients, non-uniform exposure of cells within a spheroid to a drug, and realistic cell-to-cell interactions in comparison to 2D cell culture to study drug candidates. These factors make 3D cell cultures better suited for drug discovery and development, thereby driving the demand.

Factors, such as the urgent need for more rapid and accurate diagnostic services and the advantages of 3D models over 2D models in providing detailed physiological information, boost the hospitals and diagnostic centers segment growth. In addition, the presence of diagnostic centers, such as Kiyatec that are actively involved in providing 3D models for advanced research, is expected to boost the segment growth in the coming years.

Academic institutes and industrial laboratories are also expected to contribute to the increasing share of this market. Workshops and training programs on 3D cell culture system provided by institutes are anticipated to drive the demand for 3D cell culture products & systems over the forecast period.

Regional Insights

North America led the global market in 2020 and accounted for the highest revenue share of over 43%. The region will retain its leading position throughout the forecast period on account of the availability of private and government funding for the development of advanced 3D cell culture models, high healthcare spending, and the presence of a large number of universities and research organizations investigating various stem cell-based approaches. In December 2020, researchers from Mayo Clinic and Terasaki Institute, U.S., developed visible hydrogels that can be used for the monitoring and control of hemorrhage.

The “2020: A New Vision” initiative by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recognizes regenerative medicine at the forefront of healthcare. The transformative impact of the use of regenerative medicine at clinical stages is of utmost importance in translational progress and technological innovation. However, Asia Pacific is estimated to be the fastest-growing regional market from 2021 to 2028 owing to increasing investments by various international companies in the emerging economies of this region.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Major market players are focusing on novel product launches and collaborations with other players to enhance the market presence. For instance, In June 2020, Corning, Inc. introduced the Corning X-SERIES cell processing platform for cell and gene therapy applications. This platform delivers sterile, fast, efficient, and automated processing. This product has been manufactured by ThermoGenesis Holdings, Inc. In the same month, the company also launched Corning Matrigel matrix-3D plates for a more convenient and consistent, ready-to-use cell culture option to support organoid and spheroid culture models. Some prominent players in the global 3D cell culture market include:

• Merck KGaA

• Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

• PromoCell GmbH

• Greiner Bio One International GmbH

• Corning, Inc.

• 3D Biomatrix

• Lonza

• Avantor Performance Materials, LLC

• Tecan Trading AG

• 3D Biotek LLC

• Global Cell Solutions, Inc.

• InSphero

3D Cell Culture Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2016 to 2028. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research, Inc. has segmented the global 3D cell culture market report on the basis of technology, application, end-use, and region:

• Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • Scaffold-based

    • Hydrogels

    • Polymeric Scaffolds

    • Micro-patterned Surface Microplates

    • Nanofiber-based Scaffolds

  • Scaffold-free

    • Hanging Drop Microplates

    • Microfluidic 3D Cell Culture

    • Spheroid Microplates with ULA coating

    • Magnetic Levitation & 3D Bioprinting

  • Bioreactors

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • Cancer

  • Tissue Engineering & Immunohistochemistry

  • Drug Development

  • Stem Cell Research

  • Others

• End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries

  • Research Laboratories and Institutes

  • Hospitals and Diagnostic Centers

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

  • Asia Pacific

    • Japan

    • China

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

  • MEA

    • South Africa