Cell biology

Engineering

Biotechnology

Biology

Microfluidics

Materials science

Organ-on-a-chip

Drug

Computational biology

Mechanical engineering

Nanotechnology

Drug development

Track (disk drive)

Pharmacology

Chip

Electrical engineering

Cell stem cell

Organs-on-a-chip (OOCs) are miniature tissues and organs grown in vitro that enable modeling of human physiology and disease. The technology has emerged from converging advances in tissue engineering, semiconductor fabrication, and human cell sourcing. Encompassing innovations in human stem cell technology, OOCs offer a promising approach to emulate human patho/physiology in vitro, and address limitations of current cell and animal models. Here, we review the design considerations for single and multi-organ OOCs, discuss remaining challenges, and highlight the potential impact of OOCs as a fast-track opportunity for tissue engineering to advance drug development and precision medicine.

Organs-on-a-Chip: A Fast Track for Engineered Human Tissues in Drug Development