Fig. 5.

Schematic of a microfluidic device for modeling early stages of embryogenesis through the generation of blastoid- or gastruloid-like structures. Seeding of hPSCs or ESCs into a construct with microwells promotes cell aggregation and self-organization. Perfusing the media channels with morphogens (such as FGF2) could direct the cell aggregates to acquire cell fates and pattern into blastocyst-like tissue structures. Varied morphogen perfusion in the respective channels could also direct the aggregates to form specific organoids, such as cardioids. Re-drawn based on studies by Zheng et al. (2019).