Organs On Chips

Recent advances in microsystems technology and cell culture techniques have led to the development of organ-on-chip microdevices that produce tissue-level functionality, not possible with conventional culture models, by recapitulating natural tissue architecture and microenvironmental cues within microfluidic devices. Since the physiological microenvironments in living systems are mostly microfluidic in nature, the use of microfluidic devices facilitates engineering cellular microenvironments; the microfluidic devices allow for control of local chemical gradients and dynamic mechanical forces, which play important roles in cellular viability and function. The organ-on-chip microdevices have great potential to promote drug discovery and development, to model human physiology and disease, and to replace animal models for efficacy and toxicity testing. Recently, induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells have been leveraged to develop organs-on-chips, which enable various types of organ models and disease models not possible with primary cells and cell lines. This Special Issue seeks to showcase research papers, short communications, and review articles that focus on: (1) microdevices to mimic or control cellular microenvironment; (2) microdevices to evaluate interactions between different organ models; (3) microdevices to maintain iPS cells or iPSC-derived cells; and (4) sensors and techniques to evaluate drug efficacy or toxicity.

Principles of Human Organs-on-Chips covers all aspects of microfluidic organ-on-a-chip systems, from fabrication to application and commercialization. Organ-on-a-chip models are created to mimic the structural, microenvironmental and physiological functions of human organs, providing the potential to bypass some cell and animal testing methods. This is a useful platform with widespread applications, frequently in drug screening and pathological studies. This book offers a comprehensive and authoritative reference on microfluidic organs-on-chips, spanning all key aspects from fabrication methods, cell culture systems and cell-based analysis, to dedicated chapters on specific tissue types and their associated organ-on-a-chip models, as well as their use as disease models, drug screening platforms and more. Principles of Human Organs-on-Chips helps materials scientists and biomedical engineers to better understand the specific requirements and challenges in the design and fabrication of organ-on-a-chip devices. This book also bridges the knowledge gap between medical device design and subsequent clinical applications, allowing medical professionals to easily learn about related engineering concepts and techniques. Describes various microfluidic systems and fabrication methods Covers models and applications for a broad range of tissue types, including liver, eye, immune, gut, and more Offers an interdisciplinary approach, combining engineering techniques and clinical applications of organs-on-chips

This book provides a collection of microphysiological systems employed for chemical/drug screening and strategies to mimic various physiological conditions. Chapters guide readers through Organ-on-a-Chip( OoC) platforms such as liver, intestine, blood-brain barrier, kidney, vessels, cardiac and skeletal muscles, articular joint, human fat. Additional chapters detail microfabrication technologies used to fabricate OoC devices such as, standard photo- and soft-lithography, techniques to fabricate membranes, and industrial-oriented fabrication methods.Written in the format of the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, each chapter includes an introduction to the topic, lists necessary materials and reagents, includes tips on troubleshooting and known pitfalls, and step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Organ-On-a Chip: Methods and Protocols aims to be a useful practical guide to researches to help further their study in this field.

Organ-on-a-Chip: Engineered Microenvironments for Safety and Efficacy Testing contains chapters from world-leading researchers in the field of organ on a chip development and applications, with perspectives from life sciences, medicine, physiology and engineering. The book contains an overview of the field, with sections covering the major organ systems and currently available technologies, platforms and methods. As readers may also be interested in creating biochips, materials and engineering best practice, these topics are also described. Users will learn about the limitations of 2D in-vitro models and the available 3D in-vitro models (what benefits they offer and some examples). Finally, the MOC section shows how the organ on a chip technology can be adapted to improve the physiology of in-vitro models. Includes case studies of other organs on a chip that have been developed and successfully used Provides insights into functional microphysiological organ on a chip platforms for toxicity and efficacy testing, along with opportunities for translational medicine Presented fields (PK/PD, physiology, medicine, safety) are given a definition followed by the challenges and potential of organs on a chip

The necessity of on-site, fast, sensitive, and cheap complex laboratory analysis, associated with the advances in the microfabrication technologies and the microfluidics, made it possible for the creation of the innovative device lab-on-a-chip (LOC), by which we would be able to scale a single or multiple laboratory processes down to a chip format. The present book is dedicated to the LOC devices from two points of view: LOC fabrication and LOC application.

Animal experimentation has been one of the most controversial areas of animal use, mainly due to the intentional harms inflicted upon animals for the sake of hoped-for benefits in humans. Despite this rationale for continued animal experimentation, shortcomings of this practice have become increasingly more apparent and well-documented. However, these limitations are not yet widely known or appreciated, and there is a danger that they may simply be ignored. The 51 experts who have contributed to Animal Experimentation: Working Towards a Paradigm Change critically review current animal use in science, present new and innovative non-animal approaches to address urgent scientific questions, and offer a roadmap towards an animal-free world of science.

This contributed volume reviews the latest advances on relevant 3D tissue engineered in vitro models of disease making use of biomaterials and microfluidics. The main focus of this book is on advanced biomaterials and microfluidics technologies that have been used in in vitro mimetic 3D models of human diseases and show great promise in revolutionizing personalized medicine. Readers will discover important topics involving biomaterials and microfluidics design, advanced processing techniques, and development and validation of organ- and body-on-a-chip models for bone, liver, and cancer research. An in depth discussion of microfabrication methods for microfluidics development is also provided. This work is edited by two truly multidisciplinary scientists and includes important contributions from well-known experts in their fields. The work is written for both early stage and experienced researchers, and well-established scientists enrolled in the fields of biomaterials, microfluidics, and tissue engineering, and is especially suited to those who wish to become acquainted with the principles and latest developments of in vitro models of diseases, such as professionals working in pharma, medicine, and engineering.

Summarizing the latest trends and the current state of this research field, this up-to-date book discusses in detail techniques to perform localized alterations on surfaces with great flexibility, including microfluidic probes, multifunctional nanopipettes and various surface patterning techniques, such as dip pen nanolithography. These techniques are also put in perspective in terms of applications and how they can be transformative of numerous (bio)chemical processes involving surfaces. The editors are from IBM Zurich, the pioneers and pacesetters in the field at the forefront of research in this new and rapidly expanding area.