3D Cell Culture Market By Technology (Scaffold-based, Scaffold-free, Bioreactors), By Application (Cancer, Tissue Engineering & Immunohistochemistry, Drug Development, Stem Cell Research, Others), By End-User (Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries, Research Laboratories and Institutes, Hospitals and Diagnostic Centers, Others), By Geography, Size, Share, Trends, Global Growth Forecast, 2021-2030

Industry Report and Statistics (Facts & Figures) - Sales & Demand by Technology, Application & End-User

The 3D cell culture market will witness a robust CAGR of 16.3%, valued at $1.93 Bn in 2022, projected to reach $6.46 Bn by 2030, confirms SMR. North America dominates the 3D cell culture market with a revenue share of 43%.

 

3D cell culture refers to an artificial environment that facilitates the growth and interaction of biological cells in three dimensions, resembling the conditions found in living organisms. These three-dimensional cultures are commonly cultivated in bioreactors, microfluidic devices, or hanging drop devices. For several decades, these structures have been utilized in research, with initial investigations primarily centered around the extracellular matrix and the capacity of 3D matrices to generate multicellular structures that are physiologically significant. 3D spheroids exhibit more resemblance to in vivo tissue regarding cellular communication and extracellular matrices, rendering them superior models for studying cell migration, differentiation, survival, and growth. Additionally, they offer a more precise representation of cellular polarization, diverse gene expressions, and increased contact area for mechanical stimuli and cell adhesion.

 

3D cell cultures have better stability & longer lifespans than 2D cell cultures, making them suitable for long-term studies & demonstrating long-term drug effects. They can be cultured in a lab for up to 302 days while maintaining healthy, non-cancerous growth.

 

 

In 2021, based on technology, the scaffold-based segment ruled the overall 3D cell culture market and contributed to approximately two-fifth of the global market. Scaffold-based applications facilitate imaging, and the test technique is simple. Furthermore, during the forecast period of 2021-2030, the microchips segment is estimated to grow at the fastest CAGR of 21.3%.

 

The cancer research segment held a significant position with the biggest market share and accounted for approximately one-third of the overall 3D cell culture market in 2021. It is anticipated that the adoption of the 3-dimensional cell models for the overall analysis of cancer biology in the preclinical screening and testing will boost revenue production in this market. Furthermore, the regenerative medicine segment will grow at a 19.5% CAGR during the forecast period of 2021-2030.

 

On the basis of end-user, in 2021, the academic institute held the largest position contributing to one-third of the worldwide 3D cell culture market. It is estimated to lead the market in the near future because of the increased focus of academic institutes into R&D activities related to 3D culture models for the development of new approaches for the treatment of various medical conditions. However, the laboratories segment will grow at an 18.8% CAGR during 2021-2030. Biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies are also studied under end-user.

 

In 2021, North America recorded the largest share and contributed to approximately two-fifth of the worldwide 3D cell culture market. The United States leads the 3D cell culture market in this region. The United States is concentrating on R&D and has recently made large investments in the research of 3D cell culture. Furthermore, with a CAGR of 19.8%, Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing market during 2021-2030.

 

 

Cell culture is described as various laboratory techniques that allow eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells to develop in physiological settings. It was first used to research tissue growth and maturation, virus biology and vaccine creation, the function of genes in illness and health, and large-scale hybrid cell lines to manufacture biopharmaceuticals in the early twentieth century. Cultured cells have as many practical uses as cell types that can be produced in vitro. Cell culture is most typically used in clinical settings to create model systems for studying basic cell biology, replicating disease mechanisms, or testing the toxicity of new therapeutic molecules. The ability to modify genes and molecular pathways is one of the benefits of employing cell culture for these applications. Furthermore, the homogeneity of clonal cell populations or specific cell types and well-defined culture systems eliminates interfering genetic or environmental variables, allowing for high reproducibility and consistency in data generation that is impossible to guarantee when studying whole organ systems. Curi Bio's platform solutions facilitate faster development of therapies by combining human iPSC-derived cells, tissue-specific biosystems, and AI-enabled data analytics. The $6 million Series A funding round, led by Dynamk Capital, will help the company to build and verify its technology, demonstrating the need for predictive and mature human stem cell platforms to bridge the gap between preclinical and clinical outcomes. 3D cell culture is an in-vitro approach that involves creating an artificial environment and then allowing biological cells to develop, grow, or communicate using vascular endothelial growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptors with their environments in all three dimensions. A surge in cancer patients globally, rising investments, and growing incidence of infectious diseases primarily propel the market.

 

Key Market Drivers - Rise in Infectious Diseases, Increasing Investments, and Expanding Emphasis on Healthcare Quality

• The global 3D cell culture market is being driven largely by its plethora of applications in drug screening through high-throughput screening, regenerative medicine, drug repositioning while taking care of pharmacology and toxicology, stem cell treatments, 3D cell culture cancer research, and cell biology. According to a research study, differences in T-DM1 drug action in 3D spheroids or aggregates could be attributed to tumour heterogeneity and less effective T-DM1 internalization, which is not evident in 2D cell culture models. In future drug response and resistance research, 3D cell culture experiments will provide biologically appropriate models for assessing drug screening activities in tumour tissue. Furthermore, the sector benefits from the increasing use of 3D cell culture models as an alternative approach for in vivo testing, research and development of extended cell culture systems, and increased demand for organ transplantation.

 

• In addition to this, the rise in infectious illnesses has prompted the development of antiviral medications, bioreactors, cell-based treatments through primary cell culture and animal tissue culture, and vaccinations employing cell culture techniques. According to the CDC, TB bacteria afflicted 1.7 billion individuals or roughly 23% of the world's population. TB is the principal cause of fatality worldwide, claiming 1.5 million lives each year. The desire for cell-based vaccinations has grown since the procedure generates vaccines in the lowest time and is not restricted by the choice of vaccine viruses suited for eggs' development.

 

• Moreover, the expanding emphasis on healthcare quality, the growing concern about the rise of microfluidics-based 3D cell culture methods, increasing investment for technical advancement, and the launch of new products contribute to the market's overall expansion. To stimulate the growth of its biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing business, FUJIFILM Corporation is investing more than $2 billion in a new large-scale cell culture production site in the United States (CDMO). According to the findings of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal government's healthcare spending climbed 36.0 % in 2020, compared to 5.9% in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic contributed significantly to this sudden upsurge in growth. Hospital spending rose to 6.4 % to $1,270.1 billion in 2020, faster than the 6.3 % growth in 2019.

 

Market Restraints - Higher Cost of Technology, Availability of Substitutes, and Lack of Trained Professionals

• Lack of skilled professionals, availability of substitutes such as 2D cell culture, and higher cost of the technologies will hamper the growth of the 3D cell culture industry.

 

Opportunities: - Rising Awareness, Increasing Investment and R&D

• Recent developments in neuromuscular-reproducing in-vitro systems, enabled by 3D cell-culture methods, have improved reliability. Furthermore, advancements in 3D cell culture for recreating the whole spinal-locomotion circuit and neurodegenerative processes are expected to generate a good potential for global industry expansion.

 

• Increasing awareness, an increase in the funding in stem cell research, and the expanding use of 3D cell culture in cancer therapy, cell-based biosensors, 3D cell culture assays for in vitro (3D cell culture organoid) evaluation of anti-cancer drugs, 4D cell culture might all contribute to a market spike throughout the review period. The Hon Greg Hunt, the Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, allocated funding of $18.7 million for the 2020 Stem Cell Mission, which is focused on developing and delivering novel, safe, and effective stem cell treatments to enhance health outcomes. The University of Sydney had been given $6.3 million for three studies that will treat adult blindness and chronic heart disease and help to enhance judgments about stem cell interventions.

Market Analysis Of Different Segments Covered in the Report

Based on Technology

• 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

 

Based on Application

• Cancer

• Tissue Engineering & Immunohistochemistry

• Drug Development

• Stem Cell Research

• Others

 

Based on End-User

• Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries

• Research Laboratories and Institutes

• Hospitals and Diagnostic Centers

• Others

 

Regional Coverage Analysis

North America

• USA

• Canada

• Mexico

• Rest of North America

 

Europe

• Germany

• UK

• France

• Switzerland

• Russia

• Rest of Europe

 

Asia-Pacific

• India

• China

• Japan

• Rest of Asia pacific

 

LAMEA

• Brazil

• Argentina

• UAE

• Rest of LAMEA

 

 

Technology Analysis & Insights

Based on technology, the 3D cell culture market is categorized into Scaffold-based, Scaffold-free & Bioreactors. The scaffold-based 3D cell culture segment dominates the market with a revenue share of 68.96%, poised to reach $4.46 Bn by 2030. Scaffolds are essential for 3D cell culture due to their porosity, facilitating oxygen, nutriment, and waste transportation. As cells grow, they migrate within the scaffold web, eventually adhering to it. These aggregates are typically presented as heterogeneous-sized spheres called spheroids, used for drug screening and other 3D cell culture applications. Scaffolds can be hydrogels, membranes, or 3D matrices, with materials like metals, glasses, and ceramics being used. Hydrogels are porous materials with good mechanical properties & mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) to a certain extent. They store nutrients and soluble factors, which can be accessed by cells. Other types of scaffolds include bio-glass or bio-ceramic, porous metallic scaffolds made of titanium and tantalum, and non-gel polymers. Composites are also used to build scaffolds made of two or more materials combined to meet mechanical and physiological requirements.

 

Application Analysis & Insights

Based on the application, the 3D cell culture market is applicable to cancer, tissue engineering & immunohistochemistry, drug development, stem cell research & others. The cancer segment dominates the 3D cell culture market with a revenue share of 24.56%, poised to reach $1.59 Bn by 2030. 3D cell culture plays a significant role in cancer research and drug development due to its physiological relevance, ability to recreate tumor heterogeneity, and ability to evaluate anti-cancer therapies. By incorporating multiple cell types and maintaining a spatial arrangement, 3D models enable studying intercellular interactions, cell subpopulations, and drug-resistant clones. This allows for a better understanding of tumor responses, drug dosages, and mechanisms of drug resistance. Over 90% of anti-cancer drug candidates face translational failures in clinical trials due to non-accurate pre-clinical models. Proper tumor microenvironment modelling is crucial for accurately assessing drug efficacy and mechanism of action. 3D cell culture models offer promising applications in drug discovery, pre-clinical validation, and precision medicine. Additionally, 3D cell culture models enable personalized medicine and precision oncology, allowing researchers to create patient-specific tumor models that closely mimic individual tumor characteristics. This approach has led to advancements in understanding tumor biology, drug discovery, and therapeutic development, making the cancer segment a dominant area in the 3D cell culture market.

 

End-user Analysis & Insights

Based on the end-user, the 3D cell culture market is categorized into biotechnology & pharmaceutical industries, research laboratories & institutes, hospitals & diagnostic centres, and others. The biotechnology & pharmaceutical industries segment dominates the 3D cell culture market with a revenue share of 46%, poised to reach $2.97 Bn by 2030. The 3D cell culture market is an exponentially growing field in the biotechnology & pharmaceutical industries, focusing on drug discovery, disease modelling, personalized medicine, tissue engineering & high-throughput screening. This technique allows for more physiologically relevant cell behaviour and better representation of in vivo conditions.

 

Region Analysis & Insights

North America dominates the 3D cell culture market with a revenue share of 43%, growing with a CAGR of 12.17%, poised to reach $2.78 Bn by 2030. North America's dominance in the 3D cell culture market is due to its robust R&D infrastructure, technological advancements, collaborations between academia and industry, well-established healthcare and biopharmaceutical sectors, and regulatory support & funding initiatives. The region's healthcare system and large biopharmaceutical industry drive the adoption of 3D cell culture technologies, while regulatory agencies like the FDA recognize their importance in drug development and safety testing.

EU showcases the fastest-growing 3D cell culture market region with a CAGR of 16.34% during the forecasted period. The EU's strong emphasis on research and innovation, technological advancements, and diverse market players contribute to the market's growth.

 

3D Cell Culture Market Report Coverage

Report Attribute	Details
Forecast Period	2021 - 2030
Market size value in 2021	USD 1.66 billion
Revenue forecast in 2030	USD 6.46 billion
Growth rate	CAGR of 16.3%
The base year for estimation	2020
Historical data	2017 – 2020
Unit	USD Billion, CAGR (2021 - 2030)
Segmentation	By Technology, By Application, By End Users, By Region.
By Technology	Scaffold-based, Scaffold-free, Bioreactors
By Application	Cancer, Tissue Engineering & Immunohistochemistry, Drug Development, Stem Cell Research, Others
By End-User	Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries, Research Laboratories and Institutes, Hospitals and Diagnostic Centers, Others
By Region	Europe, Asia Pacific,  North America, and LAMEA
Country Scope	US, Brazil, Canada, Germany, UK, France, China, Japan, India etc.
Company Usability Profiles	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 3D Cell Culture Market Competitive Landscape Analysis

The competitive landscape analysis gives an overview of some prominent players operating in the market. Product innovation and continued R&D operations to create sophisticated technologies have assisted the industry growth. In the target industry, some of the leading 3D cell culture companies are:

• 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

 

Recent Developments:

• On June 2023, Inventia Life Science entered the Indian market with Biotron Healthcare, partnering to distribute its flagship RASTRUM platform. The platform, designed for cell biology, is a game changer in advanced cell model creation, helping researchers investigate and cure diseases like cancer, neurodegenerative, and fibrotic diseases. The highly automated platform quickly creates complex, miniaturized 3D cell cultures, allowing users to focus on downstream applications. Biotron Healthcare's Director-Sales, Venkatesh Voleti, expressed enthusiasm for bringing Inventia Life Sciences' RASTRUM platform to India's growing 3D Cell Culture community.

 

• On June 2023, AMSBIO introduced MatriMix, an innovative 3D culture substrate made of medical grade collagens, laminin-511 E8 fragments, and hyaluronic acid. This hydrogel exhibits exceptional lot-to-lot consistency, allowing researchers to replicate experiments with remarkable accuracy. Its versatile three-tube formulation allows for precise customization and creates an extracellular environment suited to target cells. MatriMix has been validated across diverse cell types, resulting in organoids with exceptional reproducibility. Its user-friendly nature, requiring storage at four degrees Celsius, and its transparent gel state at 37 degrees Celsius simplify experimental protocols and enhance interpretation.

 

• On June 2023, 3D BioFibR is excited to announce the upcoming launch of two innovative collagen fibre products: μCollaFibR and CollaFibR 3D scaffold. Using 3D BioFibR's dry-spinning technology to produce these readily available products presents notable benefits in tissue engineering and tissue culture applications. CollaFibR is a bioink additive that is utilized in the process of 3D bioprinting tissue and organ models. Its purpose is to replicate the natural cellular scaffold found within the human body. When incorporated into bioinks, μCollaFibR enhances the mechanical strength of printed tissues, enabling the sequential assembly of various cell types to create functional tissue and organ models. The CollaFibR scaffold for 3D cell culture allows researchers to investigate cellular reactions within a physiologically relevant 3D environment. This scaffold facilitates the growth and interaction of cells with the surrounding cellular scaffold in a three-dimensional manner.

 

• On April 2023, ZEISS Ventures is investing in startup InSphero to move forward with the adoption of 3D microtissues in research and drug development. The proceeds will commercialize InSphero's cryopreservation technology, enabling growth and scalability. InSphero's comprehensive solutions for preclinical drug safety and efficacy testing are based on 3D microtissues, phenotypic models of the smallest functional unit of a tissue or organ. The company's experience developing and applying 3D models for liver toxicology, metabolic diseases, and oncology is leveraged to drive 3D cell culture research. The strategic investment aligns with ZEISS's life-science industrialization initiative, aiming to establish its technologies as a critical enabler for widely adopted workflows in applied life sciences and healthcare.

 

Various 3D Cell Culture Commercial Products that the Market Leaders are Manufacturing

Name	Feature	Key Player
Corning CoolCell	In conjunction with a -80°C freezer, the Corning CoolCell will deliver alcohol-free freezing at a rate of -1°C/minute, appropriate for the cryopreservation of most cells and cell lines.	Corning
Gibco FreeStyle F17	A chemically defined, protein-free, serum-free media designed to enable the suspension growth and transfection of HEK293 cells. Before usage, 4–8 mM L-glutamine or GlutaMAX supplementation is recommended.	Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.
GrowDex	A bio-friendly hydrogel derived from birch and produced from properly maintained forests, GrowDex is a ready-to-use hydrogel that replicates the extracellular matrix (ECM), promoting continuous cell growth and differentiation.	UPM Biomedicals