Medical Applications and Challenges of Cell Culture Systems

Introduction: cell culture systems allow investigation of physiological, pathological, and pharmacological processes under controlled conditions, tracing back to techniques developed since the early 20th century and enhanced by the discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells in 2006. Methods: a total of 16 articles in Spanish and English were retrieved from Scopus, Science, and Springer using the keywords “2D cell culture,” “3D cell culture,” “regenerative medicine,” and “drug screening,” with more than 60 % published in the last five years. Results: two-dimensional cultures are characterized by simplicity, low cost, and scalability in cytotoxicity assays and drug screening, although they exhibit low biological fidelity. Three-dimensional systems better reproduce tissue architecture, generate nutrient and oxygen gradients, and promote more physiological gene expression profiles, making them suitable for tissue engineering, organoid development, and regenerative medicine. Identified applications include monoclonal antibody production, vaccines, cell therapies, and viral diagnostics. However, technical complexity, matrix standardization, and reproducibility remain limiting factors. Conclusions: cell culture techniques enable in vitro study of cellular physiology and pathology. Two-dimensional monolayers and three-dimensional constructs offer distinct advantages and limitations. Their applications include drug screening, regenerative medicine, vaccine production, and diagnostics.