3D Cell Culture Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Technology (Scaffold Based, Scaffold Free, Bioreactors, Microfluidics, Bioprinting), By Application, By End-use, By Region,- Global Industry Analysis, Share, Growth, Regional Outlook and Forecasts, 2024-2033

The global 3D cell culture market size was exhibited at USD 2.57 billion in 2023 and is projected to hit around USD 7.48 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 11.27% during the forecast period 2024 to 2033.

Key Takeaways:

• North America dominated the market and accounted for a 40.0% share in 2023. 
• The scaffold-based segment held the largest market share of 50.0% in 2023.
• The stem cell research & tissue engineering segment dominated the market with a share in 2023. 
• The biopharmaceutical & pharmaceutical companies segment dominated the market with a share in 2023.

3D Cell Culture Market Report Scope

The growth of the market can be attributed to the rising efforts to develop potential alternatives to animal-based testing and the availability of funding programs for research. Moreover, consistent efforts in R&D activities by biopharmaceutical companies for drug development & discovery, and emphasis on the adoption of 3D cell cultures in cancer research are other factors anticipated to fuel market growth over the projected period. Animal models are largely used in cellular-based studies for studying the outlook of various diseases. However, they carry several demerits such as a lack of response accuracy, differences in response from different species, etc. Thus, to manage these issues, various government organizations are involved in promoting alternative ways for drug development.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the market. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented researchers with the opportunity to investigate the novel contagious virus for the creation of therapeutic and diagnostic tools. Numerous prominent pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have been engaging in extensive R&D efforts to produce innovative vaccines, therapies, and testing kits. As a result, there has been a substantial increase in the need for cell culture tools in research applications. Furthermore, the pandemic has increased the demand for new cell-based models, organoids, and high-throughput screening platforms for research & drug discovery efforts. The urgency to combat the pandemic increased the demand for bioreactors and culture systems for applications in vaccine production and drug testing.

The rising burden of chronic diseases, and medical ailments such as multiple organ failure has created a robust demand for organ transplants. Whereas the dearth of donors has propelled the demand for alternative solutions, like regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. The 3D cell cultures system has an important role in nurturing organoids and functional tissue constructs for transplantation and drug analysis responses. Moreover, companies are launching products that would significantly boost the applications for tissue culture and tissue engineering. For instance, in June 2023, 3D BioFibR announced the launch of two novel 3D bioprinting collagen fiber products (CollaFibR 3D scaffold and μCollaFibR) for improved 3D cell culture.

Moreover, pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, and research institutes are partnering to advance 3D cell culture technology. Such efforts accelerate technology advancement, knowledge sharing, and standardization of protocols, resulting in the larger adoption of 3D cell culture techniques. In addition, the supportive government legislation, and funding support from public and private organizations have accelerated the R&D activities in the market. For instance, in March 2023, ZEISS Ventures invested in InSphero to promote 3D cell culture research. Similarly, in November 2023, HeartBeat.bio got an investment of USD 4.94 million (€4.5 million) for the development of a specific type of platform which is 3D human tissue-based drug discovery for heart diseases.

Furthermore, robust demand for in-vitro testing models from a range of end users, and several organic and inorganic initiatives undertaken by market players is anticipated to facilitate market expansion in coming years. For instance, in December 2023, Charles River Laboratories announced their agreement with CELLphenomics, which is anticipated to expand their 3D in vitro services that would be used for drug screening purposes for cancer therapy. Similarly, in October 2020 Merck collaborated with D1 Med to accelerate manufacturing of D1Med’s 3-dimensional cells culture technology applications adopted in the drug development process.

Market Concentration & Characteristics

The market growth stage is medium, and the pace of the market growth is accelerating. The market for 3D cell culture is characterized by a high degree of innovation owing to rapid technological advancements. Moreover, the emergence of microfluidics-based 3D cell model (which is a type of cell culture) has further fueled the growth of the market. Several pharmaceutical companies & researchers are using this platform for better accuracy and is a reliable model for toxicity testing and drug screening. In May 2023, CellFE announced the launch of a new microfluidics cellular engineering platform, Infinity Mtx in the annual meeting of the American Society of Cell and Gene Therapy (ASGCT) 2023.

The market is also characterized by a high level of partnerships and collaboration activity undertaken by the leading players. This is attributed to the rising focus on increasing the company’s products & services portfolio, the need to consolidate in a rapidly growing market, and the increasing strategic importance of 3D cell model. Several companies are undertaking this strategy to strengthen their portfolio. For instance, in May 2023, Kiyatec and AstraZeneca announced their collaboration for multifaceted research which would be using Kiyatec’s 3D spheroid screening platform, KIYA-Predict to develop and commercialize a new therapeutics for cancer.

Regulatory authorities are focusing on establishing stringent guidelines for biosafety, contamination control, cell line authentication, and other factors. Hence, compliance with regulatory standards represents significant challenges that may limit market growth. 3D cell models products intended for clinical or commercial use must comply with rigorous quality and safety standards set by regulatory authorities. These standards may include Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and quality control measures to ensure the consistency, purity, and safety of the final products. Meeting these regulatory requirements necessitates meticulous documentation and validation of procedures, which can increase the complexity and cost of cell culture operations. These factors may lead to limited adoption of 3D cell culture techniques and restrict market growth.

Several companies are expanding their 3D cell culture products. Thus, product expansion in this industry is significant. Companies are including product launches that specifically use 3D cell models for research purposes that are anticipated to drive market growth. For instance, in December 2023, Inventia Life Science, introduced a new product, Inventia Third Dimension Grant. This is projected to assist researchers with their studies regarding drug development or fundamental biology to model and test assumptions using 3D cell culture technology.

Segments Insights:

Technology Insights

The scaffold-based segment held the largest market share of 50.0% in 2023. The segment is further divided into hydrogels, polymeric scaffolds, micropatterned surfaced microplates, and nanofiber-based scaffolds. Factors such as increasing application of scaffold-based cultures in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications, advancements in scaffold materials and fabrication techniques, and increasing research funding and collaboration are anticipated to drive segment growth. The use of hydrogels as a scaffold in 3D cell culture model studies allows the incorporation of biochemical and mechanical signs as a mirror of the native extracellular matrix.

In addition, technological advancements, ongoing research activities, and recent product launches are projected to fuel segment growth. In June 2023, Dolomite Bio launched novel hydrogel-focused reagent kits for high-throughput encapsulation of cells in hydrogel scaffold. Furthermore, ongoing research efforts to develop scaffold-based technologies are another factor supporting 3D cell culture market expansion. For instance, in May 2023, researchers from NUS successfully used common plant protein to 3D print an edible cell culture scaffold.

The scaffold free segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR over the forecast period. Factors such as enhanced cellular interactions, higher throughput, and scalability, rising demand for personalized medicine, and advancements in 3D culture model platforms and technologies are responsible for the fastest growth of the segment. In addition, robust demand for scaffold-free systems across end users such as the biopharmaceutical industry and research institutes is another factor catering to segment demand.

Application Insights

Based on application, the market is segmented into cancer research, stem cell research & tissue engineering, drug development & toxicity testing, and others. The stem cell research & tissue engineering segment dominated the market with a share in 2023. The increasing demand for biopharmaceuticals owing to effective treatments like cell and gene therapy and the upswing in innovation that resulted in increased approvals are the key factors contributing to segment growth.

It is expected that the U.S. FDA will be approving around 10 to 20 products of cell and gene therapy each year by 2025 based on the current clinical success rates and the product pipeline. Also, technological advancements, supportive government legislation, and increased funding for stem cell studies have propelled the adoption of 3D culture models. For instance, in March 2023 National Institute of Health granted funding of USD 2.5 million to the research team of Purdue University for stem cell research. The funding will support the investigation of novel therapeutic approaches with stem cells as it has tremendous potential in various life-threatening disorders.

The cancer research segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR over the forecast period. The rising prevalence of cancer and the benefits offered by 3D culture models in cancer research are expected to drive segment expansion. Moreover, the advantages of 3D media in altering cell proliferation and morphology, capturing phenotypic heterogeneity, and flexibility offered by these media further support segment expansion.

End-use Insights

Based on end-use, the market is segmented into biotechnology & pharmaceutical companies, academic & research institutes, hospitals, and others. The biopharmaceutical & pharmaceutical companies segment dominated the market with a share in 2023. The continuous growth and commercial success of biopharmaceuticals coupled with leveraging the portfolio of the major pharmaceutical companies have contributed to the segment growth. 3D model offers benefits such the optimal oxygen & nutrient gradient formation and realistic cellular interactions in comparison to two-dimensional cellular media to study drugs. These factors facilitate the adoption of this method for drug discovery & development, thereby fueling the demand.

The academic & research institutes segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. Factors such as advancements in biomedical research, increasing research activities, rising industry-academia collaboration, and significant efforts from research institutions in drug modelling and drug screening are anticipated to accelerate segment growth.

Regional Insights

North America dominated the market and accounted for a 40.0% share in 2023. The market is collectively driven by the presence of advanced healthcare infrastructure, developed economies, the presence of key players, and various strategic initiatives undertaken by them. In addition, a supportive regulatory framework, government support for the development of three-dimensional culture models, and a high number of research organizations and universities investigating different stem-cells based approaches are projected to support the regional market. For instance, in April 2023, the American Cancer Society (ACS) announced the funding of more than USD 45 million for 90 novel Extramural Discovery Science (EDS) research at 67 institutes across the U.S.

Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness the fastest growth in the market from 2024 to 2033. The high burden of chronic diseases, the flourishing biotechnology sector in the region, low operating costs, and rising investments by companies in the region are fueling the regional market. Moreover, rising demand for cellular therapies, increasing biobanks, and strong research potential are further contributing to the regional market.

Recent Developments

• In September 2023, Curi bio announced the launch of two platforms, that is, Nautilus and Stringray. These platforms are anticipated to assist researchers with their 2D or 3D cell culture interrogation on electrophysiology.
• In July 2023, REPROCELL Inc. entered into a partnership with Vernal Biosciences to deliver mRNA services at scale for clinical and research applications in Japan. This strategy is aligned with REPROCELL’s aim to introduce cutting-edge preclinical & clinical research solutions to the market.
• In July 2023, 3D BioFibR, a Canada-based company, received an investment of nearly USD 3.52 million to expand the facility and launch collagen fiber products used for 3D bioprint
• In June 2023, Lonza entered into a strategic business collaboration with Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, with an aim to support the production of Vertex’s range of fully differentiated insulin-producing, investigational stem cell-derived islet cell therapies for individuals with Type 1 diabetes and to speed up the clinical trials.
• In February 2023, Corning Life Sciences announced its plans to unveil its advanced 3D culture tools and a new Elplasia plate featuring an open-well format for easing spheroid and organoid manipulations.
• In February 2023, CN Bio announced the commercial product launch of the PhysioMimix - a single-organ higher throughput system. The system is developed to allow the earlier adoption of predictive models of liver Organ-on-a-Chip for humans in drug discovery workflows. By deploying 3D cell culture systems including PhysioMimix, researchers can more efficiently simulate the behavior of organs & tissues, leading to more relevant and reliable preclinical research results.
• In January 2023, CD BioSciences launched scaffold-based technology to help scientists achieve organotypic co-culture and simulate layered tissue structures.

Some of the prominent players in the 3D cell culture market include:

• Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.
• Merck KGaA
• PromoCell GmbH
• Lonza
• Corning Incorporated
• Avantor, Inc.
• Tecan Trading AG
• REPROCELL Inc.
• CN Bio Innovations Ltd
• Lena Biosciences

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 2021 to 2033. For this study, Nova one advisor, Inc. has segmented the global 3D cell culture market.

Technology

• Scaffold Based

• • Hydrogels
  • Polymeric Scaffolds
  • Micropatterned Surface Microplates
  • Nanofiber Base Scaffolds

• Scaffold Free

• • Hanging Drop Microplates
  • Spheroid Microplates with ULA Coating
  • Magnetic Levitation

• Bioreactors
• Microfluidics
• Bioprinting

Application

• Cancer Research
• Stem Cell Research & Tissue Engineering
• Drug Development & Toxicity Testing
• Others

End Use

• Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Companies
• Academic & Research Institutes
• Hospitals
• Others

By Region

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East & Africa (MEA)