Smalltissues

Smalltissues is a term used in biomedical research to describe small, intact tissue fragments that retain elements of native tissue architecture and cellular diversity. These fragments range from a few hundred micrometers to a few millimeters and are used for short-term ex vivo analysis without full dissociation into single cells. They preserve extracellular matrix components and cell–cell interactions that are often lost in dissociated preparations.

Production methods typically involve mechanical dissection or mincing of donor tissue, sometimes followed by mild enzymatic treatment to generate uniform fragments while preserving viability. Some workflows use microfabricated devices or gentle shear to standardize size and handling.

Applications include drug screening, toxicity testing, histopathology, and studies of tissue-specific responses in cancer, neuroscience, and regenerative medicine. Smalltissues can capture intercellular heterogeneity and microenvironment cues that single cells lack, making them useful for studying tissue-level responses and interactions.

Compared with organoids or spheroids, smalltissues offer a higher degree of native architecture with less culture complexity, but they can be more variable and have a shorter culture lifespan. They may require defined culture conditions and specific handling to maintain viability and function.

Terminology varies across research groups; some researchers use "smalltissues" interchangeably with microtissues, tissue fragments, or tissue slices, while others reserve it for rapidly prepared, observation-ready samples. There is no universal standard definition.