The Synergy between Organ-on-a-Chip and Artificial Intelligence for the Study of NAFLD: From Basic Science to Clinical Research

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver affects about 25% of global adult population. On the long-term, it is associated with extra-hepatic compliances, multiorgan failure, and death. Various invasive and non-invasive methods are employed for its diagnosis such as liver biopsies, CT scan, MRI, and numerous scoring systems. However, the lack of accuracy and reproducibility represents one of the biggest limitations of evaluating the effectiveness of drug candidates in clinical trials. Organ-on-chips (OOC) are emerging as a cost-effective tool to reproduce in vitro the main NAFLD’s pathogenic features for drug screening purposes. Those platforms have reached a high degree of complexity that generate an unprecedented amount of both structured and unstructured data that outpaced our capacity to analyze the results. The addition of artificial intelligence (AI) layer for data analysis and interpretation enables those platforms to reach their full potential. Furthermore, the use of them do not require any ethic and legal regulation. In this review, we discuss the synergy between OOC and AI as one of the most promising ways to unveil potential therapeutic targets as well as the complex mechanism(s) underlying NAFLD.

Organ on Chip Technology to Model Cancer Growth and Metastasis

“…Therefore, in parallel to the production of novel COC platforms, ML algorithms to manage these data have been developed. In addition, although traditional ML offers advanced data processing capabilities, the advent of its most important component, the deep learning, made possible to analyze massive unstructured data such as images, drug–target interactions, and computational biology [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 34 ]. An example of combination of advanced live cell imaging algorithm and artificial intelligence with COC technology is reported by Oliver et al [ 35 ] They have developed a platform for detecting cancer cells with a brain metastatic phenotype combining AI, a blood–brain barrier on a chip and confocal tomography to discern between the metastatic signatures of cancer cells.…”

“…Therefore, COC technology represents the most promising tool for cancer studies, providing a unique approach which integrates microfluidics, microfabrication, tissue engineering, and biomaterials research. Moreover, a future integration of COC technology with artificial intelligence (AI) could dramatically revolutionize the oncology research, significantly advancing our understanding of cancer biology, allowing accelerated and cost effective drug discovery [ 21 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ].…”

From organ-on-a-chip towards body-on-a-chip

“…Thorough validation with conventional detection methods and standardization efforts may be needed. Acquisition of a large set of data will also allow a deeper insight in the interpretation of the experimental results, particularly when combined with artificial intelligence technology (de Chiara et al, 2021).…”

Microfluidic Organ-on-a-Chip Devices for Liver Disease Modeling In Vitro

“…For example, Hassan et al reviewed the importance of different cells in the construction of liver-on-chip-platforms and metabolic zonation within the liver [ 19 ]. Another review describing the role of non-parenchymal cells in progression indicated the NAFLD as a multi-organ disease in which the functionality of other organs is compromised by the liver state [ 20 ]. Similarly, significance of non-parenchymal cells in NAFLD pathophysiology and simulation of different liver compartments was reviewed by Deng, Wei, et al [ 21 ].…”