Lab-on-a-chip: an Advanced Technology for the Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Overview

Journal Chin Med

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Biomedical Engineering

Date 2024 Jun 9

PMID 38853247

Authors

Zenghui Lu

Yue Yuan

Qiang Han

Yu Wang

Qionglin Liang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Benefiting from the complex system composed of various constituents, medicament portions, species, and places of origin, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) possesses numerous customizable and adaptable efficacies in clinical practice guided by its theories. However, these unique features are also present challenges in areas such as quality control, screening active ingredients, studying cell and organ pharmacology, and characterizing the compatibility between different Chinese medicines. Drawing inspiration from the holistic concept, an integrated strategy and pattern more aligned with TCM research emerges, necessitating the integration of novel technology into TCM modernization. The microfluidic chip serves as a powerful platform for integrating technologies in chemistry, biology, and biophysics. Microfluidics has given rise to innovative patterns like lab-on-a-chip and organoids-on-a-chip, effectively challenging the conventional research paradigms of TCM. This review provides a systematic summary of the nature and advanced utilization of microfluidic chips in TCM, focusing on quality control, active ingredient screening/separation, pharmaceutical analysis, and pharmacological/toxicological assays. Drawing on these remarkable references, the challenges, opportunities, and future trends of microfluidic chips in TCM are also comprehensively discussed, providing valuable insights into the development of TCM.

Citing Articles

Organoid, organ-on-a-chip and traditional Chinese medicine.

Yang J, Jiang Y, Li M, Wu K, Wei S, Zhao Y Chin Med. 2025; 20(1):22.

PMID: 39940016 PMC: 11823035. DOI: 10.1186/s13020-025-01071-8.

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