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Microfluidic Organ-Chips and Stem Cell Models in the Fight Against COVID-19
Sandro Satta1,2,3, Sarah J Rockwood4, Kaidong Wang1,2,3
1Division of Cardiology and Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering (S.S., K.W., S.W., T.K.H.), University of California, Los Angeles.
Circulation Research
|May 11, 2023
Summary
Advanced microfluidic, organ-on-a-chip, and stem cell models offer new ways to study SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) infection and develop treatments. These technologies improve viral detection and model disease pathology.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Infectious Disease Research
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes multiorgan disease, necessitating effective detection, monitoring, and pathogenesis modeling.
- Understanding viral pathogenesis is crucial for combating COVID-19 and developing targeted therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in microfluidics, organ-on-a-chip, and human stem cell-derived models for studying SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- To discuss the capabilities and limitations of these models in recapitulating the physiological organ microenvironment.
- To highlight their role in viral detection, pathogenesis study, and therapeutic compound screening.
Main Methods:
- Review of microfluidic technologies for rapid and sensitive SARS-CoV-2 detection in patient samples.
- Analysis of engineered organ-on-a-chip systems that mimic in vivo organ physiology for viral pathology studies.
- Examination of human stem cell-derived models for investigating viral tropism, pathogenesis, and drug screening.
Main Results:
- Microfluidic methods significantly improve the speed, accessibility, and sensitivity of viral detection.
- Organ-on-a-chip models provide a platform to study SARS-CoV-2 pathology in a physiologically relevant context.
- Stem cell-derived models enable the study of viral behavior and the screening of potential therapeutics.
Conclusions:
- These advanced model systems, including microfluidics, organ-on-a-chip, and stem cell platforms, are vital tools for understanding SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis.
- Their integration and further development hold promise for identifying therapeutic targets and devising novel strategies against COVID-19.
- Continued innovation in these areas is essential for advancing the fight against COVID-19.
