TY - JOUR
T1 - Organ-on-a-chip
T2 - Quo vademus? Applications and regulatory status
AU - Mendes, Maria
AU - Morais, Ana Sofia
AU - Carlos, Ana
AU - Sousa, João José
AU - Pais, Alberto Canelas
AU - Mihăilă, Silvia M.
AU - Vitorino, Carla
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Authors
PY - 2025/5
Y1 - 2025/5
N2 - Organ-on-a-chip systems, also referred to as microphysiological systems (MPS), represent an advance in bioengineering microsystems designed to mimic key aspects of human organ physiology and function. Drawing inspiration from the intricate and hierarchical architecture of the human body, these innovative platforms have emerged as invaluable in vitro tools with wide-ranging applications in drug discovery and development, as well as in enhancing our understanding of disease physiology. The facility to replicate human tissues within physiologically relevant three-dimensional multicellular environments empowers organ-on-a-chip systems with versatility throughout different stages of the drug development process. Moreover, these systems can be tailored to mimic specific disease states, facilitating the investigation of disease progression, drug responses, and potential therapeutic interventions. In particular, they can demonstrate, in early-phase pre-clinical studies, the safety and toxicity profiles of potential therapeutic compounds. Furthermore, they play a pivotal role in the in vitro evaluation of drug efficacy and the modeling of human diseases. One of the most promising prospects of organ-on-a-chip technology is to simulate the pathophysiology of specific subpopulations and even individual patients, thereby being used in personalized medicine. By mimicking the physiological responses of diverse patient groups, these systems hold the promise of revolutionizing therapeutic strategies, guiding them towards tailored intervention to the unique needs of each patient. This review presents the development status and evolution of microfluidic platforms that have facilitated the transition from cells to organs recreated on chips and some of the opportunities and applications offered by organ-on-a-chip technology. Additionally, the current potential and future perspectives of these microphysiological systems and the challenges this technology still faces are discussed.
AB - Organ-on-a-chip systems, also referred to as microphysiological systems (MPS), represent an advance in bioengineering microsystems designed to mimic key aspects of human organ physiology and function. Drawing inspiration from the intricate and hierarchical architecture of the human body, these innovative platforms have emerged as invaluable in vitro tools with wide-ranging applications in drug discovery and development, as well as in enhancing our understanding of disease physiology. The facility to replicate human tissues within physiologically relevant three-dimensional multicellular environments empowers organ-on-a-chip systems with versatility throughout different stages of the drug development process. Moreover, these systems can be tailored to mimic specific disease states, facilitating the investigation of disease progression, drug responses, and potential therapeutic interventions. In particular, they can demonstrate, in early-phase pre-clinical studies, the safety and toxicity profiles of potential therapeutic compounds. Furthermore, they play a pivotal role in the in vitro evaluation of drug efficacy and the modeling of human diseases. One of the most promising prospects of organ-on-a-chip technology is to simulate the pathophysiology of specific subpopulations and even individual patients, thereby being used in personalized medicine. By mimicking the physiological responses of diverse patient groups, these systems hold the promise of revolutionizing therapeutic strategies, guiding them towards tailored intervention to the unique needs of each patient. This review presents the development status and evolution of microfluidic platforms that have facilitated the transition from cells to organs recreated on chips and some of the opportunities and applications offered by organ-on-a-chip technology. Additionally, the current potential and future perspectives of these microphysiological systems and the challenges this technology still faces are discussed.
KW - Cellular microenvironment
KW - Disease modeling
KW - Drug testing
KW - Microfluidics
KW - Organ-on-a-chip
KW - Personalized medicine
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85215208356&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2025.114507
DO - 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2025.114507
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85215208356
SN - 0927-7765
VL - 249
JO - Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces
JF - Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces
M1 - 114507
ER -