Mini-Brains From Cells of Multiple People Developed by Scientists in World First

Scientists were able to grow 3D brain models with multiple people's cells for the first time.

Brain organoids are typically grown from just a single donor's cells, making this world-first advancement extremely remarkable.

Brain Organoids

Brain organoids are typically minute 3D models consisting of tissue and mimic a full-sized brain's function and structure. These models boast higher accuracy than 2D cell models or lab mice.

Scientists are hopeful that such models could further the research and development of drugs.

Since most brain organoids are nurtured from a single donor's cells, they cannot capture the genetic variability across individuals. These variations could affect drug responses and brain development.

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Mini-Brains From Cells of Multiple People

Now, researchers have developed mini-brains from the cells of several people. The researchers have dubbed the novel hybrid brain models "chimeroids." They are brain organoid variations.

The development was noted in the "Brain Chimeroids reveal individual susceptibility to neurotoxic triggers" study.

The chimeroid development could aid in overcoming the genetic variability hurdle that is present in typical brain organoids.

For the development of chimeroids, scientists gathered stem cells from five individuals. They then used growth-inducing chemicals to coax the cells to become brain organoids. Each of them had the cells of just a single person.

The organoids were then torn apart. They then recombined the organoids' cells to make the chimeroids.

This ensured all chimeroids had the same number of cells from each individual.

Previously, researchers could grow brain cell sheets from various people's stem cells. However, this marks the first time that 3D brain models have been nurtured in this manner.

Three months later, the chimeroids had a diameter of around 0.12 to 0.2 inches. It consisted of all the same cell types typically found in a fetus' cortex.

The researchers also separately exposed the novel chimeroids to two neurotoxic chemicals. These were antiepileptic drug valproic acid, which could heighten congenital disability risk, and ethanol, which has been linked to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

They discovered that the cells from various donors had different responses to such drugs, including how extensively their growth was hindered.

Assistant biological chemistry professor Aparna Bhaduri from the University of California, Los Angeles, who did not participate in the study, noted that the chimeroids are an exciting instrument that could be used widely in neurodevelopment.

If the chimeroids were further scaled up to contain cells of more individuals, the development could theoretically aid in determining patient drug response before clinical trial testing.

Paola Arlotta, a co-senior author of the study and a regenerative biology and stem cell professor from Harvard University, expressed excitement regarding the future of organoids, like chimeroids, in developing novel ways to develop therapeutic innovations for neurological conditions.