Organoids as complex (bio)systems

Tiago G Fernandes

doi:10.3389/fcell.2023.1268540

Organoids as complex (bio)systems

Front Cell Dev Biol. 2023 Aug 25:11:1268540. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1268540. eCollection 2023.

Author

Tiago G Fernandes^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Bioengineering and iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
² Associate Laboratory i4HB-Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.

Abstract

Organoids are three-dimensional structures derived from stem cells that mimic the organization and function of specific organs, making them valuable tools for studying complex systems in biology. This paper explores the application of complex systems theory to understand and characterize organoids as exemplars of intricate biological systems. By identifying and analyzing common design principles observed across diverse natural, technological, and social complex systems, we can gain insights into the underlying mechanisms governing organoid behavior and function. This review outlines general design principles found in complex systems and demonstrates how these principles manifest within organoids. By acknowledging organoids as representations of complex systems, we can illuminate our understanding of their normal physiological behavior and gain valuable insights into the alterations that can lead to disease. Therefore, incorporating complex systems theory into the study of organoids may foster novel perspectives in biology and pave the way for new avenues of research and therapeutic interventions to improve human health and wellbeing.

Keywords: complex systems; disease modeling; organoids; stem cells; systems biology.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. Funding was received from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I. P. (FCT) financed by national funds, in the scope of the project UIDB/04565/2020 and UIDP/04565/2020 of the Research Unit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences—iBB, and the project LA/P/0140/2020 of the Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy—i4HB.