Pig as an Interorgan Communication Model and Its Applications in Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, and Bioengineering Research

Advances in modern nanomedicine, bioengineering, and biomaterial research are linked to the parallel development of biological models for testing innovative biomaterials. Experimental procedures based on biological systems are key to biomaterial engineering, enabling an accurate assessment of biological activity and biosafety, including the biocompatibility of new materials. Although the optimal model for human research is still humans themselves, clinical trials on humans are not always possible, especially in the context of innovative technologies or law/ethical problems. Therefore, the advantages of using transgenic and non-transgenic pigs as an interorgan communication model in biomaterial research are discussed. Due to their physiological and anatomical similarities with humans, pigs serve as an effective large animal model to study complex interorgan interactions and translate the findings into biomaterial research. In particular, the present review focuses on the use of pigs in tissue engineering, nanotoxicology research, nanomaterial delivery systems for different tissues, and studies of immunogenicity and hemolytic activity of biomaterials. We concluded that pigs are a much better model for biomaterial research than small mammals, and their use in nanomaterial research will become increasingly important in the future.