Organoid Technology in Cardiology for Disease Modeling and Treatment
摘要
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally, highlighting the urgent need for more accurate and human-relevant research models. Traditional in vitro and animal models have proven to be insufficient in replicating the structural and functional complexity of the human heart. Recent advances in stem cell biology and tissue engineering have facilitated the development of human cardiac organoids—three-dimensional, multicellular constructs derived from pluripotent stem cells that can recapitulate key features of cardiac development and disease. This chapter reviews the foundations, innovations, and limitations of cardiac organoid technology, exploring the mechanisms of organoid formation through self-organization, bioprinting, and tissue engineering. It also outlines different types of cardiac organoids and discusses their emerging applications in modeling inherited and acquired heart diseases, drug toxicity screening, and personalized medicine. While challenges remain, particularly regarding vascularization, maturity, and scalability, continuous improvements are positioning cardiac organoids as transformative tools in cardiovascular research. The chapter aims to provide a comprehensive overview of this cutting-edge field and highlight future directions for clinical and translational applications.