{"title":"<i>In silico</i> modelling of organ-on-a-chip devices: an overview.","authors":"Yue Wang, Lucia Marucci, Martin E Homer","doi":"10.3389/fbioe.2024.1520795","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>An organ-on-a-chip (OOAC) is a microscale device designed to mimic the functions and complexity of <i>in vivo</i> human physiology. Different from traditional culture systems, OOACs are capable of replicating the biochemical microenvironment, tissue-tissue interactions, and mechanical dynamics of organs thanks to the precise control offered by microfluidic technology. Diverse OOAC devices specific to different organs have been proposed for experimental research and applications such as disease modelling, personalized medicine and drug screening. Previous studies have demonstrated that the mathematical modelling of OOAC can facilitate the optimization of chips' microenvironments, serving as an essential tool to design and improve microdevices which allow reproducible growth of cell culture, reducing the time and cost of experimental testing. Here, we review recent modelling approaches for various OOAC devices, categorized according to the type of organs. We discuss the opportunities for integrating multiphysics with multicellular computational models to better characterize and predict cell culture dynamics. Additionally, we explore how developing more detailed OOAC models would support a more rapid and effective development of microdevices, and the design of robust protocols to grow and control cell cultures.</p>","PeriodicalId":12444,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology","volume":"12 ","pages":"1520795"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11808039/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2024.1520795","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/1/1 0:00:00","PubModel":"eCollection","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"BIOTECHNOLOGY & APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
An organ-on-a-chip (OOAC) is a microscale device designed to mimic the functions and complexity of in vivo human physiology. Different from traditional culture systems, OOACs are capable of replicating the biochemical microenvironment, tissue-tissue interactions, and mechanical dynamics of organs thanks to the precise control offered by microfluidic technology. Diverse OOAC devices specific to different organs have been proposed for experimental research and applications such as disease modelling, personalized medicine and drug screening. Previous studies have demonstrated that the mathematical modelling of OOAC can facilitate the optimization of chips' microenvironments, serving as an essential tool to design and improve microdevices which allow reproducible growth of cell culture, reducing the time and cost of experimental testing. Here, we review recent modelling approaches for various OOAC devices, categorized according to the type of organs. We discuss the opportunities for integrating multiphysics with multicellular computational models to better characterize and predict cell culture dynamics. Additionally, we explore how developing more detailed OOAC models would support a more rapid and effective development of microdevices, and the design of robust protocols to grow and control cell cultures.
期刊介绍:
The translation of new discoveries in medicine to clinical routine has never been easy. During the second half of the last century, thanks to the progress in chemistry, biochemistry and pharmacology, we have seen the development and the application of a large number of drugs and devices aimed at the treatment of symptoms, blocking unwanted pathways and, in the case of infectious diseases, fighting the micro-organisms responsible. However, we are facing, today, a dramatic change in the therapeutic approach to pathologies and diseases. Indeed, the challenge of the present and the next decade is to fully restore the physiological status of the diseased organism and to completely regenerate tissue and organs when they are so seriously affected that treatments cannot be limited to the repression of symptoms or to the repair of damage. This is being made possible thanks to the major developments made in basic cell and molecular biology, including stem cell science, growth factor delivery, gene isolation and transfection, the advances in bioengineering and nanotechnology, including development of new biomaterials, biofabrication technologies and use of bioreactors, and the big improvements in diagnostic tools and imaging of cells, tissues and organs.
In today`s world, an enhancement of communication between multidisciplinary experts, together with the promotion of joint projects and close collaborations among scientists, engineers, industry people, regulatory agencies and physicians are absolute requirements for the success of any attempt to develop and clinically apply a new biological therapy or an innovative device involving the collective use of biomaterials, cells and/or bioactive molecules. “Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology” aspires to be a forum for all people involved in the process by bridging the gap too often existing between a discovery in the basic sciences and its clinical application.