Abstract
Organ-on-chip (OoC) and multi-organs-on-chip (MOoC) systems have the potential to play an important role in drug discovery, disease modeling, and personalized medicine. However, most devices developed in academic labs remain at a proof-of-concept level and do not yet offer the ease-of-use, manufacturability, and throughput that are needed for widespread application. Commercially available OoC are easier to use but often lack the level of complexity of the latest devices in academia. Furthermore, researchers who want to combine different chips into MOoC systems are limited to one supplier, since commercial systems are not compatible with each other. Given these limitations, the implementation of standards in the design and operation of OoCs would strongly facilitate their acceptance by users. Importantly, the implementation of such standards must be carried out by many participants from both industry and academia to ensure a widespread acceptance and adoption. This means that standards must also leave room for proprietary technology development next to promoting interchangeability. An open platform with standardized interfacing and user-friendly operation can fulfill these requirements. In this Perspective article, the concept of an open platform for OoCs is defined from a technical perspective. Moreover, we discuss the importance of involving different stakeholders in the development, manufacturing, and application of such an open platform.
Highlights
ORGAN-ON-CHIP DEVELOPMENTOrgan-on-chips (OoC) are microfluidic cell culture devices that model aspects of organ-level functionality by mimicking microenvironmental aspects of tissues, including three-dimensional geometries and biophysical stimuli [Figs. 1(a) and 1(b)].1,2 In addition, sensors can be integrated for real-time monitoring of processes in these complex physiological models
The proposed platform architecture consists of a fluidic circuit board (FCB) acting as a baseplate and microfluidic building blocks (MFBBs) that are interfaced with the FCB in a standardized manner
The FCB and MFBB platform concept is being ported to the field of OoC with the support of the Human Organ and Disease Model Technologies consortium, which encompasses several Dutch universities, research institutes, and OoC start-up companies
Summary
Organ-on-chips (OoC) are microfluidic cell culture devices that model aspects of organ-level functionality by mimicking microenvironmental aspects of tissues, including three-dimensional geometries and biophysical stimuli [Figs. 1(a) and 1(b)].1,2 In addition, sensors can be integrated for real-time monitoring of processes in these complex physiological models. Organ-on-chips (OoC) are microfluidic cell culture devices that model aspects of organ-level functionality by mimicking microenvironmental aspects of tissues, including three-dimensional geometries and biophysical stimuli [Figs. Sensors can be integrated for real-time monitoring of processes in these complex physiological models. For these reasons, OoCs have great potential for disease modeling, personalized medicine, and drug discovery,[3] especially when paired with human stem cell technology.[4] systems with multiple connected OoCs [Fig. 1(c)] are being developed to study organ–organ interactions.[5] These multi-organs-on-chip (MOoC) systems are essential for drug development since drug and toxicity screening cannot realistically be confined to a single organ due to the drugs’ metabolic pathways across several organs. Endusers of modular OoC systems are limited to devices from one supplier or research group, since the components of these systems are not interchangeable due to the lack of interface standardization
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