Affiliation:
1. Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology Ministry of Education College of Bioengineering Chongqing University Chongqing 400045 China
2. Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University) Chongqing 400038 China
3. Key Laboratory of Infectious Immune and Antibody Engineering of Guizhou Province Engineering Research Center of Cellular Immunotherapy of Guizhou Province School of Biology and Engineering/School of Basic Medical Sciences Guizhou Medical University Guiyang 550025 China
Abstract
AbstractUnderstanding the signals from the physical microenvironment is critical for deciphering the processes of neurogenesis and neurodevelopment. The discovery of how surrounding physical signals shape human developing neurons is hindered by the bottleneck of conventional cell culture and animal models. Notwithstanding neural organoids provide a promising platform for recapitulating human neurogenesis and neurodevelopment, building neuronal physical microenvironment that accurately mimics the native neurophysical features is largely ignored in current organoid technologies. Here, it is discussed how the physical microenvironment modulates critical events during the periods of neurogenesis and neurodevelopment, such as neural stem cell fates, neural tube closure, neuronal migration, axonal guidance, optic cup formation, and cortical folding. Although animal models are widely used to investigate the impacts of physical factors on neurodevelopment and neuropathy, the important roles of human stem cell‐derived neural organoids in this field are particularly highlighted. Considering the great promise of human organoids, building neural organoid microenvironments with mechanical forces, electrophysiological microsystems, and light manipulation will help to fully understand the physical cues in neurodevelopmental processes. Neural organoids combined with cutting‐edge techniques, such as advanced atomic force microscopes, microrobots, and structural color biomaterials might promote the development of neural organoid‐based research and neuroscience.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing Municipality
Subject
Biomaterials,Biotechnology,General Materials Science,General Chemistry