The convergence of high-tech emerging technologies into the next stage of organ-on-a-chips

Abstract

Recently, organ-on-a-chips (OoCs) have been proposed as highly innovative, truly predictive tools with limitless potential for organ function modelling, drug discovery and testing. By mimicking human key organ functions in vitro, they are proposed as models for studying physiological processes as well as disease-related mechanisms to elucidate pathological pathways and test the safety and efficacy of potential drug candidates, with unprecedented degree of physiological and clinical relevance. Despite the numerous efforts from biology and engineering, we expect that OoC will reach the next level by benefitting from high-tech technologies such as biofabrication, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and automation.