*Result*: Engineered neuroglial organoids as living neural interfaces for restorative neurosurgery.

Title:
Engineered neuroglial organoids as living neural interfaces for restorative neurosurgery.
Authors:
Vattipally VN; 1Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland., Kramer P; 1Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland., Troumouchi K; 2National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece., Shiino S; 3Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana., Abouelseoud N; 4College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park., Joshi K; 5Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore., Xu R; 1Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland., Theodore N; 1Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland., Brem H; 1Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland., Bettegowda C; 1Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland., Jantzie LL; 1Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.; 6Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore; and., Robinson S; 1Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland., Azad TD; 1Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland., Kathuria A; 7Department of Biomedical Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
Source:
Neurosurgical focus [Neurosurg Focus] 2026 Feb 01; Vol. 60 (2), pp. E5.
Publication Type:
Journal Article; Review
Language:
English
Journal Info:
Publisher: American Association of Neurological Surgeons Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 100896471 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1092-0684 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 10920684 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Neurosurg Focus Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s):
Original Publication: Charlottesville, VA : American Association of Neurological Surgeons, c1996-
Contributed Indexing:
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; ischemic stroke; neuroglial organoids; restorative neurosurgery; stem cells; traumatic brain injury
Entry Date(s):
Date Created: 20260201 Date Completed: 20260201 Latest Revision: 20260201
Update Code:
20260202
DOI:
10.3171/2025.11.FOCUS25911
PMID:
41621105
Database:
MEDLINE

*Further Information*

*Acute and chronic CNS pathologies that result in tissue loss remain among the most intractable problems in neurosurgery, with current treatments focused on stabilization and neuroprotection rather than structural repair. Neural interfaces such as recording, stimulating, or replacing neural activity have demonstrated value in restoring function via prostheses and brain-computer interfaces, yet these approaches are constrained by electrode design, bandwidth, and limited biological integration. Engineered neuroglial organoids offer a complementary, biologically based interface strategy. Derived from pluripotent stem cells, neuroglial organoids arrive as 3D constructs containing neurons and glia in intrinsic architecture, capable of vascularization, synaptic connectivity, and integration with host tissue. Building on dissociated stem cell suspensions, organoids act not only as reservoirs of cells but also as living neural interfaces, receiving inputs from host circuits and generating functional outputs. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that transplanted organoids can couple to host sensory pathways, respond to stimulation, and support recovery of motor and cognitive functions. Moreover, emerging work coupling organoid grafts to brain-computer interfaces highlights the potential for closed-loop biological electronic systems, in which engineered devices provide precise recording and stimulation while organoids contribute adaptive, active biological circuits. This combination allows real-time bidirectional communication, allowing the graft to be both monitored and adapted to structurally and functionally integrate into host tissue. In this review, the authors examine neuroglial organoid transplantation through the lens of neural interfacing. They outline lessons from non-CNS organoid transplantation, summarize neurotrauma studies where grafts engage host circuits, and highlight opportunities to integrate organoids with electrodes, stimulation paradigms, and computational models. They also discuss challenges, namely vascularization, immune tolerance, surgical delivery, and manufacturing standards, that parallel those in neural device translation. For neurosurgeons, the appeal of neuroglial organoids lies not only in tissue replacement but in establishing a new class of biological neural interfaces, extending the reach of restorative neurosurgery. By merging living constructs with engineered devices, organoid-based strategies may enable hybrid restorative systems that restore function after neurological injury and disease.*