The promise and potential of liver organoids: Development, classification and application

Liver diseases are a leading cause of mortality worldwide. While liver transplantation remains the gold standard for end-stage liver disease, its application is severely constrained by donor shortages, high costs and immune rejection. This necessitates the development of novel therapeutic strategies and physiological models. Liver organoids, three-dimensional (3D) structures derived from stem cells or hepatic progenitors, have emerged as a transformative technology. Unlike traditional three-dimensional (2D) cultures or animal models, organoids faithfully recapitulate the complex architecture and functionality of native liver tissue. Consequently, they serve as high-fidelity platforms for drug screening, disease modeling, and regenerative medicine. Despite this promise, challenges such as scalability and the lack of functional vascularization remain. This review summarizes recent advancements in liver organoid technology, detailing their development, classification, and key applications. Furthermore, we critically list current challenges and provide an outlook on future directions for this rapidly evolving field.