Microfluidic Organ-on-a-Chip Technology for Advancement of Drug Development and Toxicology

Abstract

In recent years, the exploitation of phenomena surrounding microfluidics has seen an increase in popularity, as researchers have found a way to use their unique properties to create superior design alternatives. One such application is representing the properties and functions of different organs on a microscale chip for the purpose of drug testing or tissue engineering. With the introduction of "organ-on-a-chip" systems, researchers have proposed various methods on various organ-on-a-chip systems to mimic their in vivo counterparts. In this article, a systematic approach is taken to review current technologies pertaining to organ-on-a-chip systems. Design processes with attention to the particular instruments, cells, and materials used are presented.

Keywords: drug development; microfluidics; organ-on-a-chip technology; toxicology.