Generation of Human Naïve Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Blastoids in Thermoformed Microwell Platforms.

Due to the inaccessibility of early human embryos for large, robust studies, many questions regarding the mechanisms of early embryogenesis remain. To address these questions, multiple research groups have developed human stem cell-based models of the pre-implantation blastocyst stage. These models, known as blastoids, mimic several key processes that natural blastocysts undergo as they prepare to implant into the uterine wall.

Microfluidic On-Chip Assay for Quantifying Blastoid Adhesion to Endometrial Epithelium.

The ability of the endometrium to accept and support embryo implantation is crucial, but factors influencing this process remain elusive. This method aims to obtain precise quantitative information on factors causally affecting the initial stages of embryo implantation. We developed a personalized implantation-on-chip platform using in vitro models of the endometrium (organoids) and the embryo (blastoids) to quantify functional embryo attachment.

Monochorionic Twinning in Bioengineered Human Embryo Models.

Monochorionic twinning of human embryos increases the risk of complications during pregnancy. The rarity of such twinning events, combined with ethical constraints in human embryo research, makes investigating the mechanisms behind twinning practically infeasible. As a result, there is a significant knowledge gap regarding the origins and early phenotypic presentation of monochorionic twin embryos.

From Mice to Men: Generation of Human Blastocyst-Like Structures .

Advances in the field of stem cell-based models have in recent years lead to the development of blastocyst-like structures termed blastoids. Blastoids can be used to study key events in mammalian pre-implantation development, as they mimic the blastocyst morphologically and transcriptionally, can progress to the post-implantation stage and can be generated in large numbers. Blastoids were originally developed using mouse pluripotent stem cells, and since several groups have successfully generated blastocyst models of the human system.

Generation of human induced pluripotent stem cell lines derived from four DiGeorge syndrome patients with 22q11.2 deletion.

DiGeorge syndrome (22q11.2 deletion syndrome, or CATCH22 syndrome), caused by hemizygous deletion of chromosome 22q11.2, results in the poor development of multiple organs.

Structurally-discovered KLF4 variants accelerate and stabilize reprogramming to pluripotency.

Non-genetically modified somatic cells can only be inefficiently and stochastically reprogrammed to pluripotency by exogenous expression of reprogramming factors. Low competence of natural reprogramming factors may prevent the majority of cells to successfully and synchronously reprogram. Here we screened DNA-interacting amino acid residues in the zinc-finger domain of KLF4 for enhanced reprogramming efficiency using alanine-substitution scanning methods.