Figure 1. Microfluidic Organ-on-a-Chip platform.

Preclinical studies rely on major tools, i.e. 2D or 3D in vitro cell cultures, and in vivo animal models, for drug development. 2D in vitro culture offers a rapid and reproducible way to analyze drug response; however, they lack the 3D physiological tissue environment. Conventional 3D cell culture in the hydrogel matrix though can provide a 3D culture environment, it still falls short to controllably recapitulate the in vivo physiology and pathology in the human body. Animal models enable in vivo analysis, yet the species of differences between animal and human physiological mechanisms and complexity of the in vivo physiology weakens the accuracy and reproducibility of experimental results. Microfluidic Organ-on-Chip platform that enables controllable cell culture within an organotypic microarchitectural environment provides a simple yet more physiologically relevant platform to controllably and systematically interrogate human biology. Figure generated in BioRender (BioRender.com).