Advances in Organ-on-a-chip Technologies for Biomedical Research and Applications

Recent breakthroughs in micro-nano fabrication and tissue engineering have accelerated the evolution of organoids and organ-on-chips (OOCs), offering a novel in vitro modeling strategy for human organ physiology. OOCs leverage microfluidic systems to replicate organ-specific microenvironments, providing a dynamic and configurable platform that simulates human biology for drug discovery and disease modeling. These technologies overcome the limitations of traditional in vitro systems and animal models, with organoids enhancing disease progression insights and OOCs enabling reproducible, high-throughput tissue functionality assessment. Despite the establishment of various disease models and the successful commercial transition of certain OOC platforms, high costs and research limitations underscore the need for continued technological innovation and standardization. This review examines the current capabilities and challenges of OOCs in drug screening, disease modeling and personalized medicine, emphasizing their potential to refine evaluation processes with greater precision.