Human brain organoids: an innovative model for neurological disorder research and therapy

The emergence of human brain organoids (hBOs) has transformed how we study brain development, disease mechanisms, and therapy discovery. These 3D in vitro neural models closely mimic the cellular diversity, spatial structure, and functional connectivity of the human brain, providing a groundbreaking...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hancheng Li, Junxiao Zhu, Jieyu Li, Yangkai Wu, Chaohua Luo, Yuting Huang, Jieru Wu, Wenhua Liu, Hongwu Wang, Zhixian Mo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2025.1658074/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849222424901451776
author Hancheng Li
Hancheng Li
Junxiao Zhu
Junxiao Zhu
Jieyu Li
Yangkai Wu
Chaohua Luo
Yuting Huang
Jieru Wu
Wenhua Liu
Hongwu Wang
Hongwu Wang
Zhixian Mo
author_facet Hancheng Li
Hancheng Li
Junxiao Zhu
Junxiao Zhu
Jieyu Li
Yangkai Wu
Chaohua Luo
Yuting Huang
Jieru Wu
Wenhua Liu
Hongwu Wang
Hongwu Wang
Zhixian Mo
author_sort Hancheng Li
collection DOAJ
description The emergence of human brain organoids (hBOs) has transformed how we study brain development, disease mechanisms, and therapy discovery. These 3D in vitro neural models closely mimic the cellular diversity, spatial structure, and functional connectivity of the human brain, providing a groundbreaking platform that outperforms traditional 2D cultures and animal models in studying neurodevelopment and neurological disorders. To further explore the potential of hBOs technology, we review current literature focusing particularly on its applications for diagnosing and treating major neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other related neurological disorders. Using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells combined with cutting-edge gene-editing technologies, hBOs enable highly precise mechanistic studies and scalable drug screening. Moreover, we further discuss the advantages and current limitations of hBOs. Despite these challenges, hBOs remain a transformative platform for the development of targeted neurotherapeutics. Collectively, this review offers a solid foundation for advancing neuroscience research and fostering innovative treatment strategies for neurological disorders.
format Article
id doaj-art-e0812da7f60247078aafef0f681c6891
institution Kabale University
issn 1662-5102
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
spelling doaj-art-e0812da7f60247078aafef0f681c68912025-08-26T05:28:09ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience1662-51022025-08-011910.3389/fncel.2025.16580741658074Human brain organoids: an innovative model for neurological disorder research and therapyHancheng Li0Hancheng Li1Junxiao Zhu2Junxiao Zhu3Jieyu Li4Yangkai Wu5Chaohua Luo6Yuting Huang7Jieru Wu8Wenhua Liu9Hongwu Wang10Hongwu Wang11Zhixian Mo12Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacology of Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, ChinaKey Laboratory for Research and Utilization of Southern Medicine, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, ChinaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, ChinaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacology of Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, ChinaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, ChinaKey Laboratory for Research and Utilization of Southern Medicine, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, ChinaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, ChinaRisk Assessment Laboratory for Agricultural Product Quality and Safety, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacology of Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaThe emergence of human brain organoids (hBOs) has transformed how we study brain development, disease mechanisms, and therapy discovery. These 3D in vitro neural models closely mimic the cellular diversity, spatial structure, and functional connectivity of the human brain, providing a groundbreaking platform that outperforms traditional 2D cultures and animal models in studying neurodevelopment and neurological disorders. To further explore the potential of hBOs technology, we review current literature focusing particularly on its applications for diagnosing and treating major neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other related neurological disorders. Using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells combined with cutting-edge gene-editing technologies, hBOs enable highly precise mechanistic studies and scalable drug screening. Moreover, we further discuss the advantages and current limitations of hBOs. Despite these challenges, hBOs remain a transformative platform for the development of targeted neurotherapeutics. Collectively, this review offers a solid foundation for advancing neuroscience research and fostering innovative treatment strategies for neurological disorders.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2025.1658074/fullhuman brain organoidsneurological disordersdisease modelingtherapeutic innovationinduced pluripotent stem cells
spellingShingle Hancheng Li
Hancheng Li
Junxiao Zhu
Junxiao Zhu
Jieyu Li
Yangkai Wu
Chaohua Luo
Yuting Huang
Jieru Wu
Wenhua Liu
Hongwu Wang
Hongwu Wang
Zhixian Mo
Human brain organoids: an innovative model for neurological disorder research and therapy
Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
human brain organoids
neurological disorders
disease modeling
therapeutic innovation
induced pluripotent stem cells
title Human brain organoids: an innovative model for neurological disorder research and therapy
title_full Human brain organoids: an innovative model for neurological disorder research and therapy
title_fullStr Human brain organoids: an innovative model for neurological disorder research and therapy
title_full_unstemmed Human brain organoids: an innovative model for neurological disorder research and therapy
title_short Human brain organoids: an innovative model for neurological disorder research and therapy
title_sort human brain organoids an innovative model for neurological disorder research and therapy
topic human brain organoids
neurological disorders
disease modeling
therapeutic innovation
induced pluripotent stem cells
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2025.1658074/full
work_keys_str_mv AT hanchengli humanbrainorganoidsaninnovativemodelforneurologicaldisorderresearchandtherapy
AT hanchengli humanbrainorganoidsaninnovativemodelforneurologicaldisorderresearchandtherapy
AT junxiaozhu humanbrainorganoidsaninnovativemodelforneurologicaldisorderresearchandtherapy
AT junxiaozhu humanbrainorganoidsaninnovativemodelforneurologicaldisorderresearchandtherapy
AT jieyuli humanbrainorganoidsaninnovativemodelforneurologicaldisorderresearchandtherapy
AT yangkaiwu humanbrainorganoidsaninnovativemodelforneurologicaldisorderresearchandtherapy
AT chaohualuo humanbrainorganoidsaninnovativemodelforneurologicaldisorderresearchandtherapy
AT yutinghuang humanbrainorganoidsaninnovativemodelforneurologicaldisorderresearchandtherapy
AT jieruwu humanbrainorganoidsaninnovativemodelforneurologicaldisorderresearchandtherapy
AT wenhualiu humanbrainorganoidsaninnovativemodelforneurologicaldisorderresearchandtherapy
AT hongwuwang humanbrainorganoidsaninnovativemodelforneurologicaldisorderresearchandtherapy
AT hongwuwang humanbrainorganoidsaninnovativemodelforneurologicaldisorderresearchandtherapy
AT zhixianmo humanbrainorganoidsaninnovativemodelforneurologicaldisorderresearchandtherapy