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. 2025:2951:125-138.
doi: 10.1007/7651_2024_545.

Methods for Generating Self-Organizing Human Patterned Heart Organoids Using Pluripotent Stem Cells

Brett Volmert  1   2 , Aitor Aguirre  3   4
Affiliations

Methods for Generating Self-Organizing Human Patterned Heart Organoids Using Pluripotent Stem Cells

Brett Volmert et al. Methods Mol Biol. 2025.

Abstract

Organoids derived from pluripotent stem cells exhibit notable similarities to organ development in vitro. Nonetheless, cardiac organoids generated to date possess immature phenotypes and are unable to model the full spectrum of heart development and disease. Here, we describe the developmental maturation of human heart organoids by controlled exposure to metabolic and hormonal factors over a 10-day period, mirroring key stages of human cardiac development and resulting in significant molecular, cellular, morphological, and functional changes. Overall, our findings represent a significant advancement in synthetic human heart development, offering a valuable platform for studying cardiac disease states and conducting pharmacological research.

Keywords: Cardiac development; Cardiovascular; Heart; Human; Organoid; Pluripotent stem cell; Self-organization.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Schematic of heart organoid differentiation and developmental maturation. (a) Protocol outlining all media major media changes and timepoints of the differentiation and maturation protocols. (b) Depiction of heat organoid growth and development including significance of timepoints and respective stages of heart development.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Research applications of developmentally maturated human heart organoids.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Organoid mounting on glass slides. (a) Microbeads are placed onto the periphery of glass slide. (b) Microbeads are covered with mounting medium. (c) Organoids are transferred onto the slide. (d) Organoids are covered with clearing solution. (e) A coverslip is placed on top of the slide.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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