Pharmaceutics (Mar 2024)

Brain Organoids: A Game-Changer for Drug Testing

  • Chiara Giorgi,
  • Giorgia Lombardozzi,
  • Fabrizio Ammannito,
  • Marta Sofia Scenna,
  • Eleonora Maceroni,
  • Massimiliano Quintiliani,
  • Michele d’Angelo,
  • Annamaria Cimini,
  • Vanessa Castelli

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16040443
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 4
p. 443

Abstract

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Neurological disorders are the second cause of death and the leading cause of disability worldwide. Unfortunately, no cure exists for these disorders, but the actual therapies are only able to ameliorate people’s quality of life. Thus, there is an urgent need to test potential therapeutic approaches. Brain organoids are a possible valuable tool in the study of the brain, due to their ability to reproduce different brain regions and maturation stages; they can be used also as a tool for disease modelling and target identification of neurological disorders. Recently, brain organoids have been used in drug-screening processes, even if there are several limitations to overcome. This review focuses on the description of brain organoid development and drug-screening processes, discussing the advantages, challenges, and limitations of the use of organoids in modeling neurological diseases. We also highlighted the potential of testing novel therapeutic approaches. Finally, we examine the challenges and future directions to improve the drug-screening process.

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