Bioengineering methods for vascularizing organoids

• Published in: Cell reports methods Vol. 4; no. 6; p. 100779
• Main Authors: Nwokoye, Peter N., Abilez, Oscar J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 17-06-2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Bioengineering - methods; Bioprinting - methods; Cell Differentiation; Coculture Techniques - methods; human pluripotent stem cells; Humans; Neovascularization, Physiologic; organoid-on-a-chip; organoids; Organoids - cytology; Printing, Three-Dimensional; Review; Stem Cells - cytology; Tissue Engineering - methods; vascularization; organoid-on-a-chip; organoids; vascularization; CP: Stem cell; human pluripotent stem cells; CP: Biotechnology; bioengineering methods
• ISSN: 2667-2375; 2667-2375
• DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2024.100779

Organoids, self-organizing three-dimensional (3D) structures derived from stem cells, offer unique advantages for studying organ development, modeling diseases, and screening potential therapeutics. However, their translational potential and ability to mimic complex in vivo functions are often hindered by the lack of an integrated vascular network. To address this critical limitation, bioengineering strategies are rapidly advancing to enable efficient vascularization of organoids. These methods encompass co-culturing organoids with various vascular cell types, co-culturing lineage-specific organoids with vascular organoids, co-differentiating stem cells into organ-specific and vascular lineages, using organoid-on-a-chip technology to integrate perfusable vasculature within organoids, and using 3D bioprinting to also create perfusable organoids. This review explores the field of organoid vascularization, examining the biological principles that inform bioengineering approaches. Additionally, this review envisions how the converging disciplines of stem cell biology, biomaterials, and advanced fabrication technologies will propel the creation of increasingly sophisticated organoid models, ultimately accelerating biomedical discoveries and innovations.
In this review, Nwokoye and Abilez discuss pioneering bioengineering strategies for organoid vascularization, such as co-culturing with vascular cells and utilizing organoid-on-a-chip technologies, and highlight the significant potential of these techniques to improve organoid functionality and maturation, thereby accelerating progress in biomedical research and applications.