Organ-on-a-chip engineering: Toward bridging the gap between lab and industry

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Drug Discovery
• Translational Medicine

Background:

• Organ-on-a-chip (OOC) technology aims to revolutionize pharmaceutical research by improving preclinical-to-clinical translation.
• Current in vitro models simplify organ anatomy, potentially compromising physiological relevance for drug studies.
• Bridging the gap between in vivo and in vitro data requires models that maintain physiological relevance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review organ-on-a-chip technology, focusing on industrial needs.
• To synthesize current achievements and identify future directions in OOC development.
• To emphasize the requirements for a "good in vitro model" for industrial applications.

Main Methods:

• Systematic synthesis of existing organ-on-a-chip literature.
• Analysis of OOC technology based on structure (micro-anatomy), function (micro-physiology), and device characteristics.
• Discussion of biological model-device integration and challenges in technology transfer.

Main Results:

• Organ-on-a-chip technology requires careful consideration of micro-anatomy, micro-physiology, and device engineering for industrial viability.
• Successful integration of biological models with devices is key to functional OOC systems.
• Several challenges currently hinder the transfer of OOC technology to the industry.

Conclusions:

• Organ-on-a-chip technology holds significant potential for pharmaceutical development, but requires further advancement in device engineering and model-device integration.
• Meeting industrial needs necessitates OOC models that balance simplification with physiological relevance.
• Addressing current challenges is essential for accelerating the adoption of OOC technology in the pharmaceutical industry.