Multiorgan-on-a-Chip: A Systemic Approach To Model and Decipher Inter-Organ Communication

Abstract

Multiorgan-on-a-chip (multi-OoC) platforms have great potential to redefine the way in which human health research is conducted. After briefly reviewing the need for comprehensive multiorgan models with a systemic dimension, we highlight scenarios in which multiorgan models are advantageous. We next overview existing multi-OoC platforms, including integrated body-on-a-chip devices and modular approaches involving interconnected organ-specific modules. We highlight how multi-OoC models can provide unique information that is not accessible using single-OoC models. Finally, we discuss remaining challenges for the realization of multi-OoC platforms and their worldwide adoption. We anticipate that multi-OoC technology will metamorphose research in biology and medicine by providing holistic and personalized models for understanding and treating multisystem diseases.

Breaking the Third Wall: Implementing 3D-Printing Techniques to Expand the Complexity and Abilities of Multi-Organ-on-a-Chip Devices

“…OOAC can be categorized into two concepts, single-organ-on-a-chip devices and multi-organ-on-a-chip devices. While single-organ-on-a-chip devices are designed to study a specific tissue, multi-organ-on-a-chip devices are designed to integrate several tissues or cell lines in one connected platform to enable a more accurate model by allowing for crucial physiological criteria such as reciprocal signaling [13,15,[43][44][45].…”

“…PDMS-based devices are commonly used for microfluidic applications. PDMS is biocompatible, optically clear, and gas-permeable [15,17,30]. Traditionally, PDMS-based devices are casted on molds that are fabricated by photolithography of SU-8 on silicon wafers.…”

“…Advantages of OOACs include large surface areas, high mass transfer, low regent usage, fast mixing, rapid responses, high modularity, long-lasting viability, as well as precise control of physicochemical properties [1,8,11]. In recent years, increasing efforts have been directed towards multi-organ-on-a-chip platforms as the importance of systemic analysis approaches, including tissue-tissue interactions, has been off in the fields of drug screening [12] and personalized medicine [13], which require the interaction Micromachines 2021, 12, 627 2 of 14 between different tissues to study the effects of a treatment on a whole system rather than focusing on a single tissue [13][14][15].…”

“…Manufacture techniques can be classified into two main approaches: Templates for casting, and the fabrication of a whole device. To date, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is the most widespread material for the fabrication of microfluidic devices thanks to its biocompatibility, elasticity, transparency, and low cost [15,17]. PDMS devices are generally derived by casting it on templates generated using traditional soft lithography methods [18,19].…”

Key Technologies for Progressing Discovery of Microbiome-Based Medicines

“…The organ-on-a-chip is an invaluable tool for studying the role of the microbiome in health and disease in various tissue types of the human body. The scalable nature of this technology provides a means to assemble different organ-chips to produce a human-chip system for investigations on an inter-systemic level ( Maschmeyer et al, 2015 ; Picollet-D’hahan et al, 2021 ). It will also provide significant insight of the interconnectivity between the gut microbiome with other tissue or organ systems.…”