Human Brain Organoids for Understanding Substance Use Disorders

Overview

Journal Drug Metab Pharmacokinet

Publisher Elsevier

Specialties Endocrinology
Pharmacology

Date 2024 Nov 20

PMID 39567282

Authors

Kangle Li

Longjun Gu

Hongwei Cai

Hui-Chen Lu

Ken Mackie

Feng Guo

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are complex mental health conditions involving a problematic pattern of substance use. Challenges remain in understanding its neural mechanisms, which are likely to lead to improved SUD treatments. Human brain organoids, brain-like 3D in vitro cultures derived from human stem cells, show unique potential in recapitulating the response of a developing human brain to substances. Here, we review the recent progress in understanding SUD using human brain organoid models focusing on neurodevelopmental perspectives. We first summarize the background of SUD in humans. Moreover, we introduce the development of various human brain organoid models and then discuss current progress and findings underlying the abuse of substances like nicotine, alcohol, and other addictive drugs using organoid models. Furthermore, we review efforts to develop organ chips and microphysiological systems to engineer better human brain organoids for advancing SUD studies. Lastly, we conclude by elaborating on the current challenges and future directions of SUD studies using human brain organoids.

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