AUTHOR=Miloradovic Dragana , Pavlovic Dragica , Jankovic Marina Gazdic , Nikolic Sandra , Papic Milos , Milivojevic Nevena , Stojkovic Miodrag , Ljujic Biljana TITLE=Human Embryos, Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, and Organoids: Models to Assess the Effects of Environmental Plastic Pollution JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology VOLUME=9 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cell-and-developmental-biology/articles/10.3389/fcell.2021.709183 DOI=10.3389/fcell.2021.709183 ISSN=2296-634X ABSTRACT=

For a long time, animal models were used to mimic human biology and diseases. However, animal models are not an ideal solution due to numerous interspecies differences between humans and animals. New technologies, such as human-induced pluripotent stem cells and three-dimensional (3D) cultures such as organoids, represent promising solutions for replacing, refining, and reducing animal models. The capacity of organoids to differentiate, self-organize, and form specific, complex, biologically suitable structures makes them excellent in vitro models of development and disease pathogenesis, as well as drug-screening platforms. Despite significant potential health advantages, further studies and considerable nuances are necessary before their clinical use. This article summarizes the definition of embryoids, gastruloids, and organoids and clarifies their appliance as models for early development, diseases, environmental pollution, drug screening, and bioinformatics.