Organ-on-a-Chip Models—New Possibilities in Experimental Science and Disease Modeling
‘Organ-on-a-chip’ technology is a promising and rapidly evolving model in biological research. This innovative microfluidic cell culture device was created using a microchip with continuously perfused chambers, populated by living cells arranged to replicate physiological processes at the tissue and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Biomolecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/12/1569 |
| _version_ | 1826917936882778112 |
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| author | Bartłomiej Wysoczański Marcin Świątek Anna Wójcik-Gładysz |
| author_facet | Bartłomiej Wysoczański Marcin Świątek Anna Wójcik-Gładysz |
| author_sort | Bartłomiej Wysoczański |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ‘Organ-on-a-chip’ technology is a promising and rapidly evolving model in biological research. This innovative microfluidic cell culture device was created using a microchip with continuously perfused chambers, populated by living cells arranged to replicate physiological processes at the tissue and organ levels. By consolidating multicellular structures, tissue–tissue interfaces, and physicochemical microenvironments, these microchips can replicate key organ functions. They also enable the high-resolution, real-time imaging and analysis of the biochemical, genetic, and metabolic activities of living cells in the functional tissue and organ contexts. This technology can accelerate research into tissue development, organ physiology and disease etiology, therapeutic approaches, and drug testing. It enables the replication of entire organ functions (e.g., liver-on-a-chip, hypothalamus–pituitary-on-a-chip) or the creation of disease models (e.g., amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-on-a-chip, Parkinson’s disease-on-a-chip) using specialized microchips and combining them into an integrated functional system. This technology allows for a significant reduction in the number of animals used in experiments, high reproducibility of results, and the possibility of simultaneous use of multiple cell types in a single model. However, its application requires specialized equipment, advanced expertise, and currently incurs high costs. Additionally, achieving the level of standardization needed for commercialization remains a challenge at this stage of development. |
| first_indexed | 2025-02-17T12:40:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d8ddc26020d84c979325e28f33b96ff1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-273X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-02-17T12:40:43Z |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomolecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-d8ddc26020d84c979325e28f33b96ff12024-12-27T14:13:49ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2024-12-011412156910.3390/biom14121569Organ-on-a-Chip Models—New Possibilities in Experimental Science and Disease ModelingBartłomiej Wysoczański0Marcin Świątek1Anna Wójcik-Gładysz2Department of Animal Physiology, The Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, Instytucka 3, 05-110 Jablonna, PolandDepartment of Animal Breeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Animal Physiology, The Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, Instytucka 3, 05-110 Jablonna, Poland‘Organ-on-a-chip’ technology is a promising and rapidly evolving model in biological research. This innovative microfluidic cell culture device was created using a microchip with continuously perfused chambers, populated by living cells arranged to replicate physiological processes at the tissue and organ levels. By consolidating multicellular structures, tissue–tissue interfaces, and physicochemical microenvironments, these microchips can replicate key organ functions. They also enable the high-resolution, real-time imaging and analysis of the biochemical, genetic, and metabolic activities of living cells in the functional tissue and organ contexts. This technology can accelerate research into tissue development, organ physiology and disease etiology, therapeutic approaches, and drug testing. It enables the replication of entire organ functions (e.g., liver-on-a-chip, hypothalamus–pituitary-on-a-chip) or the creation of disease models (e.g., amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-on-a-chip, Parkinson’s disease-on-a-chip) using specialized microchips and combining them into an integrated functional system. This technology allows for a significant reduction in the number of animals used in experiments, high reproducibility of results, and the possibility of simultaneous use of multiple cell types in a single model. However, its application requires specialized equipment, advanced expertise, and currently incurs high costs. Additionally, achieving the level of standardization needed for commercialization remains a challenge at this stage of development.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/12/1569organ-on-a-chipmicrofluidicsneurodegenerative diseasesneuroendocrinologymicrophysiological system |
| spellingShingle | Bartłomiej Wysoczański Marcin Świątek Anna Wójcik-Gładysz Organ-on-a-Chip Models—New Possibilities in Experimental Science and Disease Modeling Biomolecules organ-on-a-chip microfluidics neurodegenerative diseases neuroendocrinology microphysiological system |
| title | Organ-on-a-Chip Models—New Possibilities in Experimental Science and Disease Modeling |
| title_full | Organ-on-a-Chip Models—New Possibilities in Experimental Science and Disease Modeling |
| title_fullStr | Organ-on-a-Chip Models—New Possibilities in Experimental Science and Disease Modeling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Organ-on-a-Chip Models—New Possibilities in Experimental Science and Disease Modeling |
| title_short | Organ-on-a-Chip Models—New Possibilities in Experimental Science and Disease Modeling |
| title_sort | organ on a chip models new possibilities in experimental science and disease modeling |
| topic | organ-on-a-chip microfluidics neurodegenerative diseases neuroendocrinology microphysiological system |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/12/1569 |
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