Constructing organoid-brain-computer interfaces for neurofunctional repair after brain injury

  • Nat Commun. 2024 Nov 6;15(1):9580. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-53858-2.
Nan Hu  #  1  2 ,  Jian-Xin Shi  #  1  2 ,  Chong Chen  #  1  2  3 ,  Hai-Huan Xu  1  2  3 ,  Zhe-Han Chang  1  2 ,  Peng-Fei Hu  1  2 ,  Di Guo  1  2 ,  Xiao-Wang Zhang  1  2 ,  Wen-Wei Shao  1  2 ,  Xiu Fan  1  2 ,  Jia-Chen Zuo  1  2 ,  Dong Ming  1  2 ,  Xiao-Hong Li  4  5
Affiliations
  • 1. Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.
  • 2. Haihe Laboratory of Brain-Computer Interaction and Human-Machine Integration, Tianjin, China.
  • 3. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Neurotrauma Repair, Characteristic Medical Center of People's Armed Police Forces, Tianjin, China.
  • 4. Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China. [email protected].
  • 5. Haihe Laboratory of Brain-Computer Interaction and Human-Machine Integration, Tianjin, China. [email protected].
  • # Contributed equally.
PMID: 39505863 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53858-2
Abstract

The reconstruction of damaged neural circuits is critical for neurological repair after brain injury. Classical brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) allow direct communication between the brain and external controllers to compensate for lost functions. Importantly, there is increasing potential for generalized BCIs to input information into the brains to restore damage, but their effectiveness is limited when a large injured cavity is caused. Notably, it might be overcome by transplantation of brain organoids into the damaged region. Here, we construct innovative BCIs mediated by implantable organoids, coined as organoid-brain-computer interfaces (OBCIs). We assess the prolonged safety and feasibility of the OBCIs, and explore neuroregulatory strategies. OBCI stimulation promotes progressive differentiation of grafts and enhances structural-functional connections within organoids and the host brain, promising to repair the damaged brain via regenerating and regulating, potentially directing neurons to preselected targets and recovering functional neural networks in the future.