Organs-on-a-Chip Module: A Review from the Development and Applications Perspective

Abstract

In recent years, ever-increasing scientific knowledge and modern high-tech advancements in micro- and nano-scales fabrication technologies have impacted significantly on various scientific fields. A micro-level approach so-called “microfluidic technology” has rapidly evolved as a powerful tool for numerous applications with special reference to bioengineering and biomedical engineering research. Therefore, a transformative effect has been felt, for instance, in biological sample handling, analyte sensing cell-based assay, tissue engineering, molecular diagnostics, and drug screening, etc. Besides such huge multi-functional potentialities, microfluidic technology also offers the opportunity to mimic different organs to address the complexity of animal-based testing models effectively. The combination of fluid physics along with three-dimensional (3-D) cell compartmentalization has sustained popularity as organ-on-a-chip. In this context, simple humanoid model systems which are important for a wide range of research fields rely on the development of a microfluidic system. The basic idea is to provide an artificial testing subject that resembles the human body in every aspect. For instance, drug testing in the pharma industry is crucial to assure proper function. Development of microfluidic-based technology bridges the gap between in vitro and in vivo models offering new approaches to research in medicine, biology, and pharmacology, among others. This is also because microfluidic-based 3-D niche has enormous potential to accommodate cells/tissues to create a physiologically relevant environment, thus, bridge/fill in the gap between extensively studied animal models and human-based clinical trials. This review highlights principles, fabrication techniques, and recent progress of organs-on-chip research. Herein, we also point out some opportunities for microfluidic technology in the future research which is still infancy to accurately design, address and mimic the in vivo niche.

Diabetes through a 3D lens: organoid models

“…Organ-on-achip technologies have rapidly developed in a short space of time [102]. The technology allows the simultaneous culture of cells from different organs on a microfluidic chip, allowing the precise control of flow between compartments, nutrient supply, shear stress and local mechanical and electrical properties [103]. These systems have often relied on 2D cultures; the challenge now will be to combine organ-on-a-chip technology and 3D organoid technology.…”

Harnessing the Potential of Stem Cells for Disease Modeling: Progress and Promises

“…Moreover, the tailor-made architectural organization of OOCs enables to study the interactions between different biological compartments, such as cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM), tissue-tissue interfaces and parenchymal-vascular association [199,200]. One of the most important aspects of OOCs is that it is possible to combine different biomaterials, microfabrication techniques (extensively reviewed in [201,202]) and cell types for creating multi-compartment and multiphysiological systems that can model tissues pathophysiology. These systems can be developed for reflecting individual pathophysiological conditions by including blood samples, patient-derived primary adult stem cells or iPSCs and by adjusting physiochemical parameters of the flow according to personal health data [203] (Figure 1).…”

“…As a matter of fact, in the past five years many disease models have been developed, such as lung-on-a-chip for cancer [205] or coupled-OOCs of liver and pancreas spheroids able to maintain glucose homeostasis for modeling type 2 diabetes [206] (Table 6). Of note, different OOC models can be linked to build an ideal 'human-on-a-chip' which could theoretically serve as the ultimate alternative to animal models for its capacity to predict multiorgan biological interactions and response to therapeutic treatments [202,207].…”

Analysis of oxygen transport in microfluidic bioreactors for cell culture and organ‐on‐chip applications

“…12 Thus, the balance of oxygen availability and oxygen consumption is necessary to maintain normoxia and to prevent hyperoxia and hypoxia or even complete absence of oxygen (anoxia). 15 Delivery of sufficient oxygen to microfluidic bioreactors mainly occur through (i) oxygen diffusion from the permeable walls of the fluidic system or (ii) an oxygenator that is mainly made from a thin oxygen-permeable membrane implemented in the wall of the fluidic system or the bioreactor. In this way, the prediction and control of oxygen tension in each bioreactor is a critical design consideration.…”

“…In this way, the prediction and control of oxygen tension in each bioreactor is a critical design consideration. 15 Delivery of sufficient oxygen to microfluidic bioreactors mainly occur through (i) oxygen diffusion from the permeable walls of the fluidic system or (ii) an oxygenator that is mainly made from a thin oxygen-permeable membrane implemented in the wall of the fluidic system or the bioreactor. The former oxygen transport mainly occurs for bioreactors made in PDMS that has high oxygen permeability.…”