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Updated: Jul 25, 2026
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A Human Blood-Brain Interface Model to Study Barrier Crossings by Pathogens or Medicines and Their Interactions with the Brain
Published on: April 9, 2019
Vascularized human brain organoids: current possibilities and prospects.
Lois Kistemaker1, Emma J van Bodegraven1, Helga E de Vries2
1Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Trends in Biotechnology
|January 3, 2025
Summary
Human brain organoids (hBOs) are now vascularized, aiding neurodevelopment studies. However, these vascularized hBOs (vhBOs) lack blood flow and a functional blood-brain barrier, limiting applications.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Bioengineering
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Human brain organoids (hBOs) are 3D in vitro models of brain development and disease.
- Traditional hBOs lack vasculature, limiting their ability to model neurovascular processes.
- Recent advancements allow for the vascularization of hBOs (vhBOs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current state of vascularized human brain organoids (vhBOs).
- To highlight the recapitulation of neurodevelopmental processes in vhBOs.
- To identify limitations and future directions for vhBO applications.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent bioengineering developments in hBO vascularization.
- Analysis of studies modeling neurodevelopmental processes and barriergenesis in vhBOs.
- Evaluation of current limitations in vhBO models.
Main Results:
- Vascularization of hBOs enables partial recapitulation of neural tube angiogenesis and neurovascular unit (NVU)-like structure formation.
- vhBOs are utilized for modeling neurodevelopmental defects.
- Current vhBOs lack blood-like flow and a functional blood-brain barrier (BBB).
Conclusions:
- Vascularized hBOs show promise for studying neurodevelopment and disease.
- Significant shortcomings, including lack of blood flow and a functional BBB, need to be addressed.
- Further characterization, standardization, and bioengineering advancements are crucial for broader applications, such as drug transport studies.
