Organs-On-Chip Models of the Female Reproductive System
Microfluidic-based technology attracts great interest in cell biology and medicine, in virtue of the ability to better mimic the in vivo cell microenvironment compared to conventional macroscale cell culture platforms. Recent Organs-on-chip (OoC) models allow to reproduce in vitro tissue and organ-l...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-11-01
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| Series: | Bioengineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/6/4/103 |
| _version_ | 1797761820523495424 |
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| author | Vanessa Mancini Virginia Pensabene |
| author_facet | Vanessa Mancini Virginia Pensabene |
| author_sort | Vanessa Mancini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microfluidic-based technology attracts great interest in cell biology and medicine, in virtue of the ability to better mimic the in vivo cell microenvironment compared to conventional macroscale cell culture platforms. Recent Organs-on-chip (OoC) models allow to reproduce in vitro tissue and organ-level functions of living organs and systems. These models have been applied for the study of specific functions of the female reproductive tract, which is composed of several organs interconnected through intricate endocrine pathways and communication mechanisms. To date, a disease and toxicology study of this system has been difficult to perform. Thus, there is a compelling need to develop innovative platforms for the generation of disease model and for performing drug toxicity/screening in vitro studies. This review is focused on the analysis of recently published OoC models that recreate pathological and physiological characteristics of the female reproductive organs and tissues. These models aim to be used to assess changes in metabolic activity of the specific cell types and the effect of exposure to hormonal treatment or chemical substances on some aspects of reproduction and fertility. We examined these models in terms of device specifications, operating procedures, accuracy for studying the biochemical and functional activity of living tissues and the paracrine signalling that occurs within the different tissues. These models represent a powerful tool for understanding important diseases and syndromes affecting women all around the world. Immediate adoption of these models will allow to clarify diseases, causes and adverse events occurring during pregnancy such as pre-eclampsia, infertility or preterm birth, endometriosis and infertility. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:18:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0aeaff95f7b24adaac5e1bbfb6603471 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2306-5354 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:18:51Z |
| publishDate | 2019-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Bioengineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-0aeaff95f7b24adaac5e1bbfb66034712023-08-02T05:18:25ZengMDPI AGBioengineering2306-53542019-11-016410310.3390/bioengineering6040103bioengineering6040103Organs-On-Chip Models of the Female Reproductive SystemVanessa Mancini0Virginia Pensabene1School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UKSchool of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UKMicrofluidic-based technology attracts great interest in cell biology and medicine, in virtue of the ability to better mimic the in vivo cell microenvironment compared to conventional macroscale cell culture platforms. Recent Organs-on-chip (OoC) models allow to reproduce in vitro tissue and organ-level functions of living organs and systems. These models have been applied for the study of specific functions of the female reproductive tract, which is composed of several organs interconnected through intricate endocrine pathways and communication mechanisms. To date, a disease and toxicology study of this system has been difficult to perform. Thus, there is a compelling need to develop innovative platforms for the generation of disease model and for performing drug toxicity/screening in vitro studies. This review is focused on the analysis of recently published OoC models that recreate pathological and physiological characteristics of the female reproductive organs and tissues. These models aim to be used to assess changes in metabolic activity of the specific cell types and the effect of exposure to hormonal treatment or chemical substances on some aspects of reproduction and fertility. We examined these models in terms of device specifications, operating procedures, accuracy for studying the biochemical and functional activity of living tissues and the paracrine signalling that occurs within the different tissues. These models represent a powerful tool for understanding important diseases and syndromes affecting women all around the world. Immediate adoption of these models will allow to clarify diseases, causes and adverse events occurring during pregnancy such as pre-eclampsia, infertility or preterm birth, endometriosis and infertility.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/6/4/103reproductive organswomen healthpreterm |
| spellingShingle | Vanessa Mancini Virginia Pensabene Organs-On-Chip Models of the Female Reproductive System Bioengineering reproductive organs women health preterm |
| title | Organs-On-Chip Models of the Female Reproductive System |
| title_full | Organs-On-Chip Models of the Female Reproductive System |
| title_fullStr | Organs-On-Chip Models of the Female Reproductive System |
| title_full_unstemmed | Organs-On-Chip Models of the Female Reproductive System |
| title_short | Organs-On-Chip Models of the Female Reproductive System |
| title_sort | organs on chip models of the female reproductive system |
| topic | reproductive organs women health preterm |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/6/4/103 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vanessamancini organsonchipmodelsofthefemalereproductivesystem AT virginiapensabene organsonchipmodelsofthefemalereproductivesystem |