Enhanced hepatotoxicity assessment through encapsulated HepG2 spheroids in gelatin hydrogel matrices: Bridging the gap from 2D to 3D culture

Conventional 2D drug screening often fails to predict clinical outcomes accurately. We present an innovative approach to enhance hepatotoxicity assessment by encapsulating HepG2 spheroids in gelatin hydrogel matrices with varying mechanical properties. Encapsulated spheroids exhibit sustained liver-specific functionality, enhanced drug-metabolizing enzyme expression, and increased drug sensitivity compared to 2D cultures. The platform detects critical variations in drug response, with significant differences in IC