Abstract

Human Adherent Cortical Brain Organoids in a Multiwell Format

Femke de Vrij, Associate Professor, Erasmus Medical Center

Recent developments in induced pluripotent stem cell technology offer the unique opportunity to implement lineage-specific human cellular models suitable for drug development applications. Here, we expand on our platform for adherent cortical organoids that resemble the human frontal cortex during early development. The resulting 3D MICro-brains model the essence of cortical structure formation in a miniature format that is literally about 1-millionth the size of a normal human brain. The platform contains all relevant brain cell types: functional neurons and glial cell types in layered radial structures, including astrocytes, myelinating oligodendrocytes and microglia. This advanced 3D MICro-brain platform is amenable to high-throughput analyses for toxicity testing and screening purposes aimed at discovery of pathophysiological mechanisms and therapeutic compound testing for neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.