Transplantation Strategies to Enhance Maturity and Cellular Complexity in Brain Organoids

Human brain organoids are 3-dimensional cell aggregates that are generated from pluripotent stem cells and reca-pitulate features of the early developing human brain. Brain organoids mainly consist of cells from the neural lineage, such as neural progenitor cells, neurons, and astrocytes. However, current brain organoid systems lack functional vasculature as well as other non-neuronal cells that are indispensable for oxygen and nutrient supply to the orga-noids, causing cell stress and formation of a necrotic center. Attempts to utilize intracerebral transplantation ap-proaches have demonstrated successful vascularization of brain organoids and robust neurodifferentiation. In this review, we summarize recent progress and discuss ethical considerations in the field of brain organoid transplantation.

Automated summary

Human brain organoids generated from pluripotent stem cells recapitulate early developing human brain features but lack functional vasculature and non-neuronal cells. Recent progress in intracerebral transplantation approaches has demonstrated successful vascularization and neurodifferentiation of brain organoids. Ethical considerations in the field of brain organoid transplantation are also discussed.