Ready-to-use 3D Human Cortical Spheroids

Damage to the central nervous system (CNS) has a life-threatening impact on humans, and there is a high demand for relevant models to study CNS diseases and therapeutic strategies. Mature neurons and astrocytes in the brain together form a complex three-dimensional network system. Astrocytes in vivo regulate blood flow, provide energy to neurons, and supply the building blocks of neurotransmitters, which support the formation of functional synapses. The complex cellular arrangement of the central nervous system are unlikely to be recapitulated in 2D cultures where cells display the planar morphology and have cellular interactions only in the lateral direction. To create a more biologically relevant in vitro brain model, ScienCell has developed ready-to-use 3D human cortical spheroids (SP3D-HCS) comprised of primary human neurons and astrocytes. SP3D-HCS are generated by coculturing neurons and astrocytes at a 1:7 ratio in 3D culture. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that the 3D human cortical spheroids maintain direct cell-cell interactions between neurons and astrocytes and form functional synapses throughout the spheroids. Importantly, in the defined, serum-free spheroid medium, the neurons are networked with quiescent astrocytes, a phenotype closely resembling in vivo astrocytes. The quiescent astrocytes are critical for synapse function and neural development. This advanced and ready-to-use cortical spheroid is highly suitable for the study of CNS functions, diseases, and therapeutics.