Microfluidic Organs-on-chips

Overview

Journal Nat Biotechnol

Specialty Biotechnology

Date 2014 Aug 6

PMID 25093883

Citations 1138

Authors

Sangeeta N Bhatia

Donald E Ingber

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

An organ-on-a-chip is a microfluidic cell culture device created with microchip manufacturing methods that contains continuously perfused chambers inhabited by living cells arranged to simulate tissue- and organ-level physiology. By recapitulating the multicellular architectures, tissue-tissue interfaces, physicochemical microenvironments and vascular perfusion of the body, these devices produce levels of tissue and organ functionality not possible with conventional 2D or 3D culture systems. They also enable high-resolution, real-time imaging and in vitro analysis of biochemical, genetic and metabolic activities of living cells in a functional tissue and organ context. This technology has great potential to advance the study of tissue development, organ physiology and disease etiology. In the context of drug discovery and development, it should be especially valuable for the study of molecular mechanisms of action, prioritization of lead candidates, toxicity testing and biomarker identification.

Citing Articles

Organ-on-a-Chip Applications in Microfluidic Platforms.

An L, Liu Y, Liu Y Micromachines (Basel). 2025; 16(2).

PMID: 40047688 PMC: 11857120. DOI: 10.3390/mi16020201.

A Versatile and Modular Microfluidic System for Dynamic Cell Culture and Cellular Interactions.

Ramadan Q, Hazaymeh R, Zourob M Micromachines (Basel). 2025; 16(2).

PMID: 40047680 PMC: 11857257. DOI: 10.3390/mi16020237.

Application of microphysiological systems to unravel the mechanisms of schistosomiasis egg extravasation.

Alfred M, Ochola L, Okeyo K, Bae E, Ogongo P, Odongo D Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2025; 15:1521265.

PMID: 40041145 PMC: 11876127. DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2025.1521265.

Exploring the landscape of current in vitro and in vivo models and their relevance for targeted radionuclide theranostics.

Bokhout L, Campeiro J, Dalm S Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2025; .

PMID: 40016527 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-025-07123-3.

Microfluidic Flow Promotes a Steatotic Phenotype in Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Hepatocytes that is Influenced by Disease State of the Donor.

Minocha E, Jiang L, Gupta A, Green R, Zohar Y, Wertheim J Gastro Hep Adv. 2025; 4(4):100601.

PMID: 39996239 PMC: 11849064. DOI: 10.1016/j.gastha.2024.100601.

References

Choucha Snouber L, Bunescu A, Naudot M, Legallais C, Brochot C, Dumas M . Metabolomics-on-a-chip of hepatotoxicity induced by anticancer drug flutamide and Its active metabolite hydroxyflutamide using HepG2/C3a microfluidic biochips. Toxicol Sci. 2012; 132(1):8-20. DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfs230. View

Atac B, Wagner I, Horland R, Lauster R, Marx U, Tonevitsky A . Skin and hair on-a-chip: in vitro skin models versus ex vivo tissue maintenance with dynamic perfusion. Lab Chip. 2013; 13(18):3555-61. DOI: 10.1039/c3lc50227a. View

Wilkening S, Stahl F, Bader A . Comparison of primary human hepatocytes and hepatoma cell line Hepg2 with regard to their biotransformation properties. Drug Metab Dispos. 2003; 31(8):1035-42. DOI: 10.1124/dmd.31.8.1035. View

Sung K, Yang N, Pehlke C, Keely P, Eliceiri K, Friedl A . Transition to invasion in breast cancer: a microfluidic in vitro model enables examination of spatial and temporal effects. Integr Biol (Camb). 2010; 3(4):439-50. PMC: 3094750. DOI: 10.1039/c0ib00063a. View

Lee P, Vandenburgh H . Skeletal muscle atrophy in bioengineered skeletal muscle: a new model system. Tissue Eng Part A. 2013; 19(19-20):2147-55. DOI: 10.1089/ten.TEA.2012.0597. View

Chao P, Maguire T, Novik E, Cheng K, Yarmush M . Evaluation of a microfluidic based cell culture platform with primary human hepatocytes for the prediction of hepatic clearance in human. Biochem Pharmacol. 2009; 78(6):625-32. PMC: 4487512. DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2009.05.013. View

Prentice-Mott H, Chang C, Mahadevan L, Mitchison T, Irimia D, Shah J . Biased migration of confined neutrophil-like cells in asymmetric hydraulic environments. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013; 110(52):21006-11. PMC: 3876268. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1317441110. View

Choucha Snouber L, Letourneur F, Chafey P, Broussard C, Monge M, Legallais C . Analysis of transcriptomic and proteomic profiles demonstrates improved Madin-Darby canine kidney cell function in a renal microfluidic biochip. Biotechnol Prog. 2011; 28(2):474-84. DOI: 10.1002/btpr.743. View

Achyuta A, Conway A, Crouse R, Bannister E, Lee R, Katnik C . A modular approach to create a neurovascular unit-on-a-chip. Lab Chip. 2012; 13(4):542-53. DOI: 10.1039/c2lc41033h. View

10.

Seidi A, Kaji H, Annabi N, Ostrovidov S, Ramalingam M, Khademhosseini A . A microfluidic-based neurotoxin concentration gradient for the generation of an in vitro model of Parkinson's disease. Biomicrofluidics. 2011; 5(2):22214. PMC: 3145239. DOI: 10.1063/1.3580756. View

11.

Faley S, Copland M, Wlodkowic D, Kolch W, Seale K, Wikswo J . Microfluidic single cell arrays to interrogate signalling dynamics of individual, patient-derived hematopoietic stem cells. Lab Chip. 2009; 9(18):2659-64. DOI: 10.1039/b902083g. View

12.

Zhou M, Ma H, Lin H, Qin J . Induction of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in proximal tubular epithelial cells on microfluidic devices. Biomaterials. 2013; 35(5):1390-401. DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2013.10.070. View

13.

Esch M, Sung J, Yang J, Yu C, Yu J, March J . On chip porous polymer membranes for integration of gastrointestinal tract epithelium with microfluidic 'body-on-a-chip' devices. Biomed Microdevices. 2012; 14(5):895-906. DOI: 10.1007/s10544-012-9669-0. View

14.

Sung J, Esch M, Shuler M . Integration of in silico and in vitro platforms for pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol. 2010; 6(9):1063-81. DOI: 10.1517/17425255.2010.496251. View

15.

HARRISON R . The outgrowth of the nerve fiber as a mode of protoplasmic movement. J Exp Zool. 1959; 142:5-73. DOI: 10.1002/jez.1401420103. View

16.

Cimetta E, Sirabella D, Yeager K, Davidson K, Simon J, Moon R . Microfluidic bioreactor for dynamic regulation of early mesodermal commitment in human pluripotent stem cells. Lab Chip. 2012; 13(3):355-64. PMC: 3535552. DOI: 10.1039/c2lc40836h. View

17.

Baudoin R, Legendre A, Jacques S, Cotton J, Bois F, Leclerc E . Evaluation of a liver microfluidic biochip to predict in vivo clearances of seven drugs in rats. J Pharm Sci. 2013; 103(2):706-18. DOI: 10.1002/jps.23796. View

18.

Jang K, Suh K . A multi-layer microfluidic device for efficient culture and analysis of renal tubular cells. Lab Chip. 2009; 10(1):36-42. DOI: 10.1039/b907515a. View

19.

Griep L, Wolbers F, de Wagenaar B, ter Braak P, Weksler B, Romero I . BBB on chip: microfluidic platform to mechanically and biochemically modulate blood-brain barrier function. Biomed Microdevices. 2012; 15(1):145-50. DOI: 10.1007/s10544-012-9699-7. View

20.

Rumsey J, Das M, Bhalkikar A, Stancescu M, Hickman J . Tissue engineering the mechanosensory circuit of the stretch reflex arc: sensory neuron innervation of intrafusal muscle fibers. Biomaterials. 2010; 31(32):8218-27. PMC: 2941211. DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2010.07.027. View