Female Reproductive Tract Modeling through Advanced 3D Biomimetic Platforms

초록

The female reproductive tract (FRT) is an intricate and highly regulated network comprising the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, and placenta, which work in concert to govern complex reproductive functions. Dysfunction within any of these organs can lead to serious pathological conditions, including infertility, pregnancy complications, and gynecological cancers. Although conventional 2-dimensional (2D) cultures and animal models have provided foundational insights, they are limited in their ability to recapitulate human-specific 3D tissue architecture and dynamic biochemical microenvironments. To address these limitations, organoid and organ-on-a-chip (OoC) technologies have emerged as a powerful 3D biomimetic platform. Organoids preserve epithelial identity, cellular heterogeneity, and patient-specific phenotypes, whereas OoC systems incorporate microfluidic flow, mechanical stimulation, and multicompartmental interfaces to model organ-level physiology. This review provides an organ-specific overview of recent advances in organoid and OoC systems across the FRT, discusses their advantages and current limitations relative to traditional models, and highlights their potential to transform reproductive biology research, disease modeling, and translational applications.

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