# Advances and applications of organ-on-a-chip technology

## TL;DR

This review explores how organ-on-a-chip technology mimics human organs for better drug testing and disease modeling.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive overview of fabrication methods and diverse applications of organ-on-a-chip systems.

## Key findings

- OOC systems offer more accurate alternatives to traditional testing methods by simulating human organ conditions.
- Applications include disease modeling, drug testing, and personalized medicine.
- OOCs are being used in space research to study microgravity and radiation effects on human health.

## Abstract

Advancements of the organ-on-a-chip (OOC) technology have been at the forefront of multidisciplinary convergence, blending biology, engineering, and microfabrication. OOC systems recreate human organ functionalities on microfluidic devices and offer more accurate alternatives to traditional testing methods. In this review, we discuss the various fabrication methods such as microfluidics, bioprinting, and injection molding, which are vital for the development of this technology. We further highlight the capability of OOC devices to accurately simulate human organ conditions and their applications in disease modeling, drug testing, and personalized medicine. The integration of OOCs in biological research, including as biosensors for real-time monitoring and in disease modeling, and the use of OOC systems in space research, particularly for studying the effects of microgravity and radiation on human health aboard the International Space Station, are also discussed. This technology shows immense promise for transforming approaches in drug discovery, toxicology, and personalized medicine.

Organ-on-a-chip technology recreates key structural and functional features of human organs within microfluidic platforms, providing physiologically relevant alternatives to conventional models. In this review, Kong et al. summarize the various fabrication and cultivation strategies and discuss their applications ranging from biosensors, drug testing, and disease modeling to space biology.