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Biomaterials Translational ›› 2024, Vol. 5 ›› Issue (4): 355-371.doi: 10.12336/biomatertransl.2024.04.003

• REVIEW • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Progress in spinal cord organoid research: advancing understanding of neural development, disease modelling, and regenerative medicine

Ruiqi Huang1,2, Yanjing Zhu1,2,3, Haokun Chen1,2, Liqun Yu1,2, Zhibo Liu1, Yuchen Liu1, Zhaojie Wang1,2, Xiaolie He1,2, Li Yang1,2, Xu Xu1,2, Yuxin Bai1,2, Bairu Chen1, Rongrong Zhu1,2,3,*()   

  1. 1 Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital affiliated to Tongji University, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
    2 Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
    3 Clinical Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
  • Received:2024-09-29 Revised:2024-10-20 Accepted:2024-10-24 Online:2024-11-14 Published:2024-12-28
  • Contact: Rongrong Zhu, rrzhu@tongji.edu.cn.

Abstract:

Stem cell–derived spinal cord organoids (SCOs) have revolutionised the study of spinal cord development and disease mechanisms, offering a three-dimensional model that recapitulates the complexity of native tissue. This review synthesises recent advancements in SCO technology, highlighting their role in modelling spinal cord morphogenesis and their application in neurodegenerative disease research. We discuss the methodological breakthroughs in inducing regional specification and cellular diversity within SCOs, which have enhanced their predictive ability for drug screening and their relevance in mimicking pathological conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases and neuromuscular disorders. Despite these strides, challenges in achieving vascularisation and mature neuronal integration persist. The future of SCOs lies in addressing these limitations, potentially leading to transformative impactions in regenerative medicine and therapeutic development.

Key words: disease modelling, neurodevelopment, regenerative medicine, spinal cord organoids, stem cells