Fabrication of Organ-on-a-Chip using Microfluidics

Abstract

The use of microfluidic devices represents a significant advancement beyond conventional techniques in the development of innovative in vitro assays. Microfluidic chips are specialized devices that precisely control fluids at the microscale level through intricate microchannels, enabling the replication of physical and chemical conditions. When combined with tissue engineering, these chips have evolved into highly specialized tools known as Organ-on-a-Chip (OoC) devices, which can simulate the physiology and functionality of various human tissues and organs. OoC devices are cutting-edge technologies that integrate a biological component representing the target organ with a microfluidic component that mimics blood flow. This combination allows for the replication of biological structures with a more accurate representation of the in vivo physiological cellular microenvironment, which can be finely tuned by adjusting the flow rate and composition. As a result, novel microfluidic models for in vitro research can overcome the limitations of traditional 2D and 3D static cell cultures, enabling faster clinical translation and more precise predictions of the efficacy, safety, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics of new drugs. This review will discuss various techniques for fabricating OoCs and their applications in mimicking different physiological microenvironments.