Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2025
Reconstituting Cytoarchitecture and Function of Human Epithelial Tissues on an Open-Top Organ-Chip
Published on: February 17, 2023
Critical design parameters to develop biomimetic organ-on-a-chip models for the evaluation of the safety and efficacy
Mahmoud Abdelkarim1,2, Luis Perez-Davalos2, Yasmin Abdelkader2,3
1Biomedical Engineering, University of Manitoba, R3T 5V6, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Introduction:
Organ-on-a-chip (OOC) models are based on microfluidics and can recapitulate the healthy and diseased microstructure of organs1 and tissues and the dynamic microenvironment inside the human body. However, the use of OOC models to evaluate the safety and efficacy of nanoparticles (NPs) is still in the early stages.
Areas Covered:
The different design parameters of the microfluidic chip and the mechanical forces generated by fluid flow play a pivotal role in simulating the human environment. This review discusses the role of different key parameters on the performance of OOC models. These include the flow pattern, flow rate, shear stress (magnitude, rate, and distribution), viscosity of the media, and the microchannel dimensions and shape. We also discuss how the shear stress and other mechanical forces affect the transport of NPs across biological barriers, cell uptake, and their biocompatibility.
Expert Opinion:
We describe several good practices and design parameters to consider for future OOC research. We submit that following these recommendations will help realize the full potential of the OOC models in the preclinical evaluation of novel therapies, including NPs.
