Engineering Stem Cell Organoids

Organoid systems leverage the self-organizing properties of stem cells to create diverse multi-cellular tissue proxies. Most organoid models only represent single or partial components of a tissue, and it is often difficult to control the cell type, organization, and cell-cell/cell-matrix interactions within these systems. Herein, we discuss basic approaches to generate stem cell-based organoids, their advantages and limitations, and how bioengineering strategies can be used to steer the cell composition and their 3D organization within organoids to further enhance their utility in research and therapies. This Review focuses on bioengineering principles that can be applied to optimize stem cell-based organoid culture. Yin et al. discuss basic approaches for growing organoids, their advantages and limitations, and strategies aimed at altering their cell composition and 3D organization to further enhance applications in research and therapy.