Kidney Organoids in Drug Development: Integrating Technological Advances and Standardization for Effective Implementation

Abstract

Kidney organoids have emerged as promising in vitro models for studying human kidney development and nephrotoxicity. Despite their potential, limitations in maturation, reproducibility, and scalability have hindered their adoption in current drug development. Recent advances in differentiation protocols, biomaterials formulations, and enabling technologies such as bioprinting, organ-on-chip systems, and cell sorting are helping to overcome these challenges. However, further standardization in organoid differentiation, imaging, in silico analysis, and high-throughput screening automation is required for practical and effective implementation and regulatory alignment. This review provides a comprehensive overview of technological advancements that enhance kidney organoid models, emphasizing the steps needed for their integration into preclinical testing. By focusing on standardization, we highlight how kidney organoids can become reliable tools for future drug development.