3D Cell Cultures Market Size, Share, and Growth Forecast for 2024 - 2031

3D Cell Cultures Market by Product (Scaffold Free, Scaffold-based), Application (Drug Discovery, Tissue Regeneration and Regenerative Medicines, Cancer Research, Stem Cell Technology), End User, and Regional Analysis from 2024 to 2031

Industry: Healthcare

Published Date: January-2025

Format: PPT*, PDF, EXCEL

Delivery Timelines: Contact Sales

Number of Pages: 193

Report ID: PMRREP3329

Report Price

$ 4995*

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3D Cell Cultures Market Size and Share Analysis

The global 3D cell cultures market is estimated to increase from US$ 1.4 Bn in 2024 to US$ 2.6 Bn by 2031. The market is projected to record a CAGR of 9.4% during the forecast period from 2024 to 2031.

Scientists may now examine tumor behavior and treatment resistance in more realistic settings due to 3D cell models in cancer research. To investigate immunotherapy responses, for instance, researchers at the University of Cambridge created a three-dimensional tumor model in 2024. This could result in customized cancer treatments.

Research on disorders like Alzheimer's, liver fibrosis, and cystic fibrosis is increasingly using organoids, which are tiny, simplified replicas of organs made from 3D cell cultures. The potential of 3D cultures to boost neurological research was highlighted by a 2023 study that was published in ‘Nature.’ It showed how brain organoids assisted researchers in examining neural development abnormalities.

3d cell cultures market outlook, 2019-2031

Key Highlights of the Market

  • The 3D cell cultures market is experiencing robust growth, driven by increasing demand for unique cell models in drug discovery, disease modeling, and personalized medicine.
  • 3D cell culture technology is being widely adopted in pharmaceutical research, oncology studies, regenerative medicine, and toxicology testing, providing a more accurate alternative to traditional 2D models.
  • Partnerships between pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, and research organizations are accelerating technology development, knowledge sharing, and standardization, further driving adoption.
  • India is set to witness a CAGR of around 11% during the forecast period.
  • Favorable government policies and funding initiatives are boosting research and development efforts, particularly in applications like cancer research, organ transplantation, and regenerative therapies.

Market Attributes

Key Insights

3D Cell Cultures Market Size (2024E)

US$ 1.4 Bn

Projected Market Value (2031F)

US$ 2.6 Bn

Global Market Growth Rate (CAGR 2024 to 2031)

9.4%

Historical Market Growth Rate (CAGR 2019 to 2023)

7.4%

North America Sees Steady Growth Amid Rising Investments in Research Activities

North America is set to account for around 40.9% of the global 3D cell cultures market share in 2024. It is anticipated that the region will showcase a CAGR of 5.3% through 2031. The region is concentrating on research and development and has spent a lot of money over the past ten years on 3D cell culture. For instance,

  • In 2023, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced funding exceeding US$ 200 Mn for projects related to 3D cell culture.
  • The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded US$ 7 Mn in research funding to 11 institutions to develop and evaluate innovative methods and approaches to inform human health risk assessments.

In North America, the U.S. has seen technological improvements as a result. Among the leading patent applications for the field of 3D cell culture are various U.S. applicants. New applicants typically develop their innovations both in the U.S. and in Asia Pacific.

Over the past few years, the country’s bioengineering industry has also seen significant investments. Research on 3D cell culturing is a part of bioengineering. Presence of foreign funding agencies and the booming infrastructure have both contributed to the rising demand for 3D cell cultures in North America. The scaffold-free cell culture segment, on the other hand, is projected to witness a CAGR of 10.3% through 2031 due to its ability to mimic natural tissue environments without the need for artificial scaffolds.

Scaffold-based 3D Cell Culture Leads due to Ability to Screen Multiple Drugs

Scaffold-based 3D cell culture products held around 81% of the total market share in 2024. Cells are embedded into the matrix in scaffold-based 3D cultures, and the chemical and physical qualities of the scaffold material will likely affect the characteristics of the cells. In order to screen various drugs, evaluate drug efficacy on patient samples, and pave the way for individualized therapy, 3D-based scaffolds are excellent resources for cultivating primary patient-derived cancer cells.

In comparison to various suspension culture techniques, gel embedding and scaffolds have several advantages in simulating the 3D structure of tumor cells in vivo. This is because they are more precise at simulating the complete range of micro-environmental signals, including three-dimensional cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions.

Cancer Research Gains Traction as Demand for Personalized Medicine Rises

In terms of application, the cancer research segment will likely hold a share of 31% in 2024. 3D cell cultures are pivotal in developing personalized cancer treatments. For example,

  • In 2024, researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center used patient-derived organoids to test immune checkpoint inhibitors. This enabled tailored therapy for individual patients.

Such approaches improve the efficacy of immunotherapy and reduce the time needed to identify optimal treatment regimens.

Market Introduction and Trend Analysis

Why is the U.S. Market Booming?

“Rising R&D and Large Patent Portfolio”

The U.S. is set to account for around 38.4% share in the global 3D cell cultures market in 2024.

The nation is concentrating on R&D and has spent a lot of money over the past ten years on 3D cell culture. The nation has seen technological improvements as a result. Among the top patent applications for the field of 3D cell culture are numerous U.S. applicants. American applicants typically develop their innovations both in the United States and in Asia.

Over the past few years, the nation's bioengineering industry has also seen significant investment. Research on 3D cell culturing is a part of bioengineering. The presence of foreign funding agencies and the region's growing infrastructure have both contributed to the rise in demand for 3D cell cultures.

Will Germany Be a Lucrative Market for 3D Cell Culture?

“Rising Awareness Initiatives and Technology Adoption in Regenerative Medicine”

Germany is set to hold around 6.8% share of the global market in 2024.

As part of their efforts to increase public knowledge of 3D cell cultures and the country's 3D cell cultures market, a number of organisations and institutes in Germany that are involved in 3D cell culture also run training programmes and seminars. The market for 3D cell culture in Germany is expanding as a result of conferences held to encourage the adoption of this technology and financial support provided by the government for biological research.

Innovations in regenerative medicine and stem cell research have shown promise in the treatment of fatal diseases and other similar conditions. In Germany, stem cell therapies and regenerative medicine are widely adopted. Additionally, the nation has a strong healthcare infrastructure. These elements support the country's overall market growth over the forecasted years.

How is India Emerging as a Prominent Market?

“Rising Contract Research Activities and Research in Stem Cell Therapies”

India is set to project a CAGR growth at around 11.3% during the forecast period.

India is placing more and more emphasis on R&D in the healthcare industry. The nation is home to various contract research organisations that work on numerous projects for oncology, stem cell, and regenerative medicine studies. In comparison to developed countries throughout the world, regulatory practises in the nation are less stringent. Since umbilical cords are readily available and have no ethical issues when it comes to obtaining stem cells, the businesses in this industry leverage them for stem cell research.

Due to their pluripotent nature, stem cells are thought to be beneficial in treating a variety of blood-related disorders. As a result, they are used to address the rising demand for medical care from patients. Thus, the development of the 3D cell cultures market in India would benefit from the developments in stem cell therapy.

3d cell cultures market insights and key trends

Category-wise Insights

In 3D cell culture, an artificial environment is created for the cells to develop so that their behavior in response to the environment can be studied. Creating a three-dimensional structure out of living cells that resembles tissue, or an organ is known as three-dimensional cell culture (3D culture). Compared to other cell culture techniques, 3D cell culture is widely employed due to its practical and novel capabilities.

Cells are cultured on scaffolds or matrices that are designed and tailored to imitate the in-vivo extracellular matrix to generate 3D tumor and tissue models. To construct a three-dimensional cell culture, cells adhere to the scaffold, transgress into its pores, and fill them. In-vitro cell culture can use scaffolds as a physical support system.

Due to the fact that cancer cells respond better to in vitro culture, cell cultures have aided various oncology studies. In vitro cancer cell culture is a key component of cell-based assays used in cancer research.

The importance of cell-based assays in the preclinical stage can be attributed to two factors. Cellular models that can simulate pathological and physiological settings for cell-based assays can dramatically decrease the time required for development in the preclinical phase.

The 3D cell cultures market has seen significant growth due to increasing need for more accurate and reliable models in drug discovery, disease modeling, and personalized medicine. Unlike traditional 2D cell cultures, which fail to replicate the complex environment of living tissues, 3D cell cultures provide a more realistic model that closely mimics in vivo conditions.

The innovation has paved the way for better drug testing, more precise disease understanding, and unique therapeutic solutions. The market encompasses a wide range of technologies, including spheroids, organoids, and scaffolds. It also includes various applications in pharmaceutical research, toxicology, and regenerative medicine.

The market is witnessing significant technological developments, such as the emergence of organoid models and highly sophisticated 3D bioprinting techniques. These innovations enable the creation of more complex and functionally relevant cell models for research and therapy development.

Historical Growth and Course Ahead

The global 3D cell cultures market recorded a CAGR of 7.4% in the historical period from 2019 to 2023. As humans learn more about cellular pathways, they are better able to find new targets for drug development. Hence, increasing focus on oncology research has provided traction to the market for 3D cell cultures.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) invests in significant research initiatives, together with other institutes. It aims to facilitate and support research on particular topics important to the cancer research enterprise. These include NCI Genomic Data Commons (GDC), Cancer Moonshot, The National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN), NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP), and the RAS Initiative.

The accomplishment of a higher degree of similarity to the natural, in vivo environmental conditions is also believed to be the primary driver of the 3D cell cultures industry. For cell upkeep, screening, and cell-based tests, 3D cell cultures are utilized.

The market for 3D cell cultures is speculated to be fueled by the ability of these cultures to successfully cultivate cells in a manner that closely resembles their natural environment. These are also capable of generating highly accurate models of tissues. The multiple uses for 3D cell culture also help to fuel the market's rising end-user demand. Owing to the above-mentioned factors, the global market is likely to witness high growth over the next ten years at a CAGR of 9.4%.

Market Growth Drivers

Strict Rules Governing Animal Testing to Boost Demand

Various projects and campaigns have been started in response to the contentious subject of using animals in research and testing. For example,

  • According to figures released in 2024 by the Humane Society International, laboratories use around 115 million animals annually for research. It is anticipated that 3D cell culture would replace animals in laboratory testing.

Animal testing is increasingly being replaced with 3D cell culture. Governments are implementing regulations and guidelines that restrict the use of animals in testing and encourage the use of 3D cell culture instead. Hence, the market for 3D cell culture is gaining more support and initiatives from several organizations.

Various other government and non-profit organizations are also working to replace laboratory animals with 3D cell cultures. These include the National Toxicology Program, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Institutes of Health. Over the forecast period, such developments and growing awareness present chances for the 3D cell cultures industry to accelerate.

Increasing Need for Biopharmaceutical Drugs to Augment Demand

Since the last few decades, demand for 3D cell culture and related products has increased tremendously. Humulin, the first biopharmaceutical drug, was introduced in 1982. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 48 new biopharmaceutical drugs in 2019.

Development of innovative treatments and the availability of generic biopharmaceuticals, also known as biosimilars, are driving growth in the market. It is projected that the need for biosimilar medicines made using 3D cell culture would completely transform the biopharmaceutical industry.

Market Restraining Factors

Lack of Investments and Desirable Scaffold Characteristics to Hamper Demand

Skilled professionals can help bring innovation and growth in research and development by generating new ideals in the field. However, there is a scarcity of qualified individuals working on research and development initiatives.

Low pay scales, challenging work, and insufficient laboratory training are few of the primary causes of a shortage of trained experts. Handling 3D cell culture necessitates specialized laboratory training courses, which are mandatory.

Expensive nature of these courses may impede the 3D cell cultures industry in the next ten years. Furthermore, a lack of expertise in research labs as a result of lower awareness about 3D cell culture training programs impedes the market's growth.

Lack of laboratory equipment brought on by inadequate government investments in research is also anticipated to restrain the market's growth. Hence, a lack of individuals with the necessary skills and a shortage of equipment and other resources required in research labs could have a detrimental effect on the market for 3D cell cultures.

Compared to conventional 2D cell culture, 3D cell culture offers a model that more closely resembles cell-to-cell interactions, but it still lacks a properly functioning vascular system. Scaffolds are important in 3D cell culture as they support the developing cells. These tissue engineering scaffolds can be used for osteochondral structures, soft tissues, and even hard tissues to repair, regenerate, and biofabricate them.

The final observed result of the procedure is largely dependent on the porosity, surface to volume ratio, and pore dispersion. One of the problems with tissue engineering is the difficulty of synthesizing scaffolds with acceptable mechanical properties. In addition, porosity is absent in a lot of materials with good mechanical strength. Lack of desirable scaffold characteristics could hence limit market expansion.

Key Market Opportunities

Emergence of Highly Reliable Platforms to Test New Therapies Creates Opportunities

The global 3D cell cultures market is poised for considerable growth, driven by increasing demand for unique drug discovery and personalized medicine. Traditional 2D cell culture models often fail to replicate the complexity of human tissues. This makes 3D cell cultures a more accurate and effective alternative for drug testing and disease modeling.

Pharmaceutical companies and research institutions seek highly reliable platforms for testing new therapies and understanding disease mechanisms. Hence, demand for 3D cell culture systems, including organoids and high-throughput screening platforms, is set to rise significantly, presenting novel opportunities.

Competitive Landscape for the 3D Cell Cultures Market

Pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, and research organizations are collaborating to develop 3D cell culture technology. They are hence fostering technological progress, knowledge exchange, and the standardization of protocols, which encourages broader adoption of these techniques.

Supportive government policies and funding from both public and private sectors have accelerated research and development efforts in the field. For example, in March 2023, ZEISS Ventures made an investment in InSphero to accelerate 3D cell culture research. Likewise, in November 2023, HeartBeat.bio invested US$ 4.94 Mn to develop a specialized 3D human tissue-based drug discovery platform for heart disease research.

Recent Industry Developments

  • In October 2024, Belgium-based Univercells Technologies introduced the Scale-X Nexo bioreactor. It was designed to enhance the efficiency of cell culture process development across multiple therapeutic applications.
  • In September 2023, Washington-based Curi Bio launched two new platforms, namely, Nautilus and Stingray. These are aimed at supporting researchers in examining 2D and 3D cell cultures, particularly in the field of electrophysiology.
  • In July 2023, 3D BioFibR, a Canada-based organization, secured an investment of approximately US$ 3.52 Mn to extend its facilities and launch collagen fiber products tailored for 3D bioprinting applications.

3D Cell Cultures Market Report Scope

Attributes

Details

Forecast Period

2024 to 2031

Historical Data Available for

2019 to 2023

Market Analysis

US$ Billion for Value

Key Country Covered

  • North America
  • Europe
  • East Asia
  • South Asia and Oceania
  • Latin America
  • Middle East and Africa

Key Market Segments Covered

  • Product
  • Application
  • End User
  • Region

Key Companies Profiled

  • Merck KGaA (Sigma-Aldrich Corporation)
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.
  • Corning Incorporated.
  • Becton, Dickinson and Company
  • 3D Biotek LLC.
  • Lonza Group
  • InSphero AG
  • Synthecon, Inc.
  • Nanofiber Solutions, Inc.
  • Greiner Group A
  • REPROCELL
  • Others

Report Coverage

  • Market Forecast
  • Company Share Analysis
  • Competition Intelligence
  • DROT Analysis
  • Market Dynamics and Challenges
  • Strategic Growth Initiatives

Customization and Pricing

Available upon request

3D Cell Cultures Market Segmentation

By Product

  • Scaffold Free 3D Cell Culture
  • Scaffold-based 3D Cell Culture
    • Hydrogel-based 3D Cell Culture
    • Polymeric Hard Material-based 3D Cell Culture

By Application

  • Drug Discovery
  • Tissue Regeneration and Regenerative Medicines
  • Cancer Research
  • Stem Cell Technology
  • Others

By End User

  • Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals Industries
  • Academic Research Institutes
  • Hospital Laboratories
  • Contract Research Organizations

By Region

  • North America
  • Europe
  • East Asia
  • South Asia and Oceania
  • Latin America
  • Middle East and Africa

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Companies Covered in This Report

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  • Merck KGaA (Sigma-Aldrich Corporation)
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.
  • Corning Incorporated.
  • Becton, Dickinson and Company
  • 3D Biotek LLC.
  • Lonza Group
  • InSphero AG
  • Synthecon, Inc.
  • Nanofiber Solutions, Inc.
  • Greiner Group A
  • REPROCELL
  • Others

Frequently Asked Questions

The market is estimated to increase from US$ 1.4 Bn in 2024 to US$ 2.6 Bn by 2031.

The global industry is set to be propelled by developments in drug discovery and personalized medicine.

Merck KGaA (Sigma-Aldrich Corporation), Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., and Corning Incorporated are a few key players.

The industry is projected to record a CAGR of 9.4% during the forecast period from 2024 to 2031.

A prominent opportunity is the high demand for personalized medicine, driven by the need for more accurate, reliable models for testing therapies.

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