TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW
Assembloids represent the next evolution in organoid technology—fused organoids from different brain regions or organ systems that self-organize into functional multi-tissue structures. Pioneered by Sergiu Pașca at Stanford, assembloids enable study of tissue-tissue interactions impossible with single organoids.
ASSEMBLOID TYPES
- Cortico-Striatal: Cortical + striatal organoids for basal ganglia circuits
- Cortico-Spinal: Brain + spinal cord for motor pathway studies
- Cortico-Motor: Brain + muscle for neuromuscular junction
- Multi-Region Brain: Thalamus + cortex + hippocampus integration
RESEARCH APPLICATIONS
- Parkinson's Disease: Dopaminergic circuit dysfunction modeling
- Huntington's Disease: Cortico-striatal pathway degeneration
- ALS: Motor neuron-muscle communication breakdown
- Autism Spectrum: Cortical-subcortical connectivity abnormalities
FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES
Assembloids form functional synaptic connections between fused regions, enabling electrophysiological recording of neural circuit activity. Cortico-striatal assembloids exhibit directional axon projection and synchronized calcium signaling similar to in vivo brain circuits.