Organoids in disease modeling and regenerative medicine
Ryuji Morizane, Mart M. Lamers
Abstract
Organoid technology has the potential to revolutionize biomedical research by providing more physiologically relevant models for studying human development, disease mechanisms, and therapeutic development. Derived from stem cells, organoids self-organize into three-dimensional tissues that replicate the structures and functions of their in vivo counterparts. Their ability to mimic organ-specific microstructures offers new tools for investigating organogenesis, modeling genetic disorders, and screening potential therapeutics using human cells. Additionally, organoids hold promise for regenerative medicine as potential transplantable tissues for repairing or replacing damaged organs. However, challenges such as batch variability, standardization, vascularization, long-term viability, and lack of immune cells remain, hindering their clinical translation and use in disease studies. Recent efforts have focused on improving reproducibility, incorporating bioengineering techniques for enhanced maturation, and optimizing differentiation methods. This collection highlights recent advances in the respiratory, renal, and retinal organoid systems. From refining cryopreservation methods to using organoid models for virus neutralization and inflammatory studies, these contributions emphasize the potential of organoids in translational research and regenerative medicine.