Engineering the Organoid Microenvironment: The Application of Hydrogel Matrics in Organoid Culture

Organoids, which recapitulate the structure and function of human organs, have been widely used in various fields including disease modeling, drug discovery, personalized medicine, and regenerative therapy, demonstrating significant potential for future biomedical applications. Successful organoid culture depends on a matrix with the dual capability of mechanical support and mimicry of the in vivo microenvironment, both essential for cellular adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. Owing to their tunable stiffness and viscoelasticity, which enable adaptation to the culture of different organoids, hydrogels have become a key material in the development of organoid culture matrices. This review summarizes current advances in hydrogels systems, encompassing both naturally derived and synthetic hydrogels used in organoid culture, with emphasis on their composition and physicochemical properties, with the aim of assisting researchers in selecting suitable hydrogels for their studies. We further explore how hydrogels composition governs gelation behavior and, ultimately, influences organoid growth and functionality, providing insights for the future development of "all-purpose" hydrogel matrices.