Brain Assembloid Modeling Service

At Creative Biolabs, we are at the forefront of neuroscience innovation, offering sophisticated Brain Assembloid Modeling Services. These cutting-edge 3D culture systems are revolutionizing how researchers study human brain development, neural circuitry, and complex neurological diseases. Move beyond the limitations of traditional models and unlock unprecedented insights with our physiologically relevant and highly customizable brain assembloids.

What Are Brain Assembloids?

Brain assembloids are advanced three-dimensional in vitro models created by combining distinct, independently differentiated brain region-specific organoids. For example, a forebrain assembloid might be formed by fusing a dorsal forebrain (cortical) organoid with a ventral forebrain (subpallium) organoid. This approach allows for the recapitulation of interactions between different brain regions, something largely unachievable with single organoid cultures. These structures can model crucial inter-regional connections, such as cortico-thalamic or nigrostriatal pathways.

Fig.1 Schematic representation highlighting key applications of brain assembloids.¹

The Power of Assembly: How Fusing Different Brain Organoids Creates More Relevant Models

The generation of brain assembloids typically involves culturing region-specific organoids separately until they achieve appropriate differentiation and patterning. These distinct organoids are then brought into physical contact within a low-attachment culture environment, where they spontaneously fuse over several days. This fusion facilitates cell migration, axonal outgrowth, and synaptic integration between the component parts, mirroring in vivo developmental processes. The result is a more complex and functionally integrated model system that can simulate intricate cell-cell communications and neural circuit formation.

• Unraveling Complex Regional Interactions and Neural Circuitry: Our assembloids allow for the study of how different brain regions communicate and wire together, providing insights into the formation and function of complex neural circuits. This includes the observation of long-range axonal projections and synaptic connections between distinct neuronal populations.
• Recapitulating Key Neurodevelopmental Processes: Witness critical events of brain development in a dish, such as the tangential migration of interneurons from ventral to dorsal forebrain regions or the development of specific neuronal projections essential for mature brain function.
• Superior Human Disease Modeling In Vitro: Generate human-specific disease models that more accurately reflect the pathology of complex neurological and psychiatric disorders. This approach allows for the investigation of how regional interactions or specific circuit dysfunctions contribute to disease phenotypes.

Our Comprehensive Brain Assembloid Modeling Services

Creative Biolabs offers a suite of services to cater to your specific research needs:

1. Custom Multiregion Assembloid Generation:

Expanded Region-Specific Combinations: We can generate a wide array of assembloids by combining various hPSC-derived brain region-specific organoids. Our expertise includes, but is not limited to:

2. Disease-Specific Assembloid Models & Applications:

Leverage patient-derived iPSCs or genetically engineered lines to create assembloids for a range of conditions:

• Neurodevelopmental Disorders:
  Timothy Syndrome (TS): Use dorsal-ventral forebrain assembloids from TS-iPSCs to study defective GABAergic inhibitory neuron migration and test potential rescue strategies.
  Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) & Epilepsy: Dorsal-ventral forebrain assembloids can investigate primate-specific features of GABAergic interneuron development and migration relevant to these conditions.
• Neurodegenerative Diseases:
  Parkinson's Disease (PD): Midbrain-striatum assembloids are used to model nigrostriatal pathway dysfunction, dopaminergic neuron (DAN) loss, axonal degeneration, dopamine depletion in the striatum, and the impact of aging.
  Alzheimer's Disease (AD): Cortical organoids integrated with microglia-like cells (e.g., carrying APOE4 risk allele) can model Aß pathology and neuroimmune interactions.
• Motor Neuron Diseases & Cortico-Motor Circuit Disorders:
  Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): Cortico-spinal-muscle assembloids can characterize developmental abnormalities and dysfunction of the cortico-motor circuit.
• Neuropsychiatric Disorders:
  Schizophrenia: Assembloids containing human glial cells and neurons can be used to study the role of immune-related pathways (e.g., complement C4 gene) in synapse elimination.
  Other complex psychiatric diseases can be explored using various inter-brain regional assembloids.
• Specific Neurological Conditions:
  Narcolepsy: Hypothalamic organoids with hypocretin-producing neurons, assembled with autologous immune cells from patients, can elucidate mechanisms of cell loss.
  Multiple Sclerosis: Model demyelination processes using assembloids that include myelin-producing oligodendrocytes and immune cells from patients.
• Oncology:
  Brain Tumorigenesis & Invasion: Assemble cancer cells or patient-derived tumor organoids with brain organoids to investigate tumor initiation, growth, and invasion dynamics within a neural context.

3. Functional Characterization & Analysis:

• Detailed analysis of neuronal migration patterns.
• Assessment of axonal projection, pathfinding, and synaptogenesis between assembled regions.
• Electrophysiological activity, calcium imaging, and network activity analysis.

4. Compound Screening & Therapeutic Evaluation:

• Utilize our robust assembloid platforms for efficacy testing and toxicity screening of novel drug candidates in a human-relevant 3D context.

Our Streamlined Project Workflow

Ready to explore the complexities of the human brain like never before?

• Contact Us Today for a free consultation with our brain assembloid specialists.
• Request a Quote and let us help you design a project that meets your research goals.
• Learn More about our diverse portfolio of 3D neuronal modeling services.

Reference

1. Shanshan Wu, Da Wang, Yan Liu, "Brain assembloid: a human model for neural circuits research". Life Medicine, Volume 2, Issue 5, October 2023, lnad031 Distributed under Open Access License CC BY 4.0 without modification.