Extracellular vesicles in three-dimensional cancer models

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid-bilayer enclosed vesicles released from almost all cells as means of cell-to-cell communication, in both physiological and pathological processes. The role of EVs has been widely studied in cancer diseases, mostly using the classical monolayer culture models. It is well documented, instead, that 2D (monolayer) or 3D (including spheroids, organoids, or scaffolds) culture conditions differ in terms of cell-cell interaction, morphology, proliferation, and signal transduction; although the 2D model is still the most widely used in vitro, 3D culture appears to be more suitable for mimicking tissue architecture and cell behavior in vivo. Only few information on EVs biology have been obtained from 3D models; however, being the plasma membrane widely involved in the release of EVs, it is possible that the type of cell-cell interaction in a 2D or 3D model could deeply affect their characteristics in terms of number, size, and molecular cargo. The special issue could collect studies conducted on three-dimensional culture models, included in the following, not exhaustive, list: - Tissues - Spheroids - Organoids - Neurospheres - Mammospheres - Scaffolds - Organ-on-chip

07/02/2025