Chinese Journal of Nature ›› 2026, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (1): 33-40.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2026.01.005

• Review Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Bone organoids: from biomimetic construction to precision medicine

ZHANG Chen①②③④, BAI Long①②③④⑤, SU Jiacan①②④⑥   

  1. ① Bone Organoid Research Center, Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China; ② Institute for Interdisciplinary Medicine and Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China; ③ School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China; ④ National Center for Translational Medicine (Shanghai)-SHU Branch, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China; ⑤ Wenzhou Institute of Shanghai University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China; ⑥ Department of Orthopedics, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
  • Received:2025-09-09 Online:2026-02-25 Published:2026-02-06

Abstract: With the accelerating process of global population aging, the incidence of bone-related diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and bone tumors is markedly increasing, posing serious threats to public health and quality of life. Bone health therefore has been a major challenge in global public health. Traditional cell culture provides advantages of simplicity and controllability in studying cell proliferation, differentiation, and molecular mechanisms, but it lacks the three-dimensional structure and complex physiological microenvironment required to accurately mimic the architecture and functions of bone tissue in vivo. Animal models can partially reproduce physiological features, yet they are limited by species differences, restricted translational potential, and ethical concerns. Bone organoids, as a cutting-edge achievement in organoid research, are generated through the self-organization of stem cells under a three-dimensional in vitro environment, and they closely recapitulate the structure and function of bone tissue. Compared with conventional models, bone organoids not only better resemble native bone tissue in morphology and function, but also reproduce key physiological and pathological processes such as bone formation, vascularization, and immune regulation. This provides a more precise platform for investigating bone development, disease mechanisms, and therapeutic strategies. This review systematically summarizes the development and construction strategies of bone organoids, highlights their applications in disease modeling, bone defect repair, drug screening, and personalized medicine, and further discusses their potential value in precision medicine and clinical translation.