title: Modeling Barrier Tissues In Vitro: Methods, Achievements, and Challenges.
abstract: Organ-on-a-chip devices have gained attention in the field of in vitro modeling due to their superior ability in recapitulating tissue environments compared to traditional multiwell methods. These constructed growth environments support tissue differentiation and mimic tissue-tissue, tissue-liquid, and tissue-air interfaces in a variety of conditions. By closely simulating the in vivo biochemical and biomechanical environment, it is possible to study human physiology in an organ-specific context and create more accurate models of healthy and diseased tissues, allowing for observations in disease progression and treatment. These chip devices have the ability to help direct, and perhaps in the distant future even replace animal-based drug efficacy and toxicity studies, which have questionable relevance to human physiology. Here, we review recent developments in the in vitro modeling of barrier tissue interfaces with a focus on the use of novel and complex microfluidic device platforms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Binghamton University, 4400 Vestal Parkway E, Binghamton, NY 13902, United States.
authors.forename: Courtney M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Sakolish
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, 900 South Crouse Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13244, United States.
authors.forename: Mandy B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Esch
authors.affiliation: NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, 12424 Research Parkway Suite 401, Orlando, FL 32828, United States; Hesperos Inc., 3259 Progress Dr., Orlando, FL 32826, United States.
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hickman
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, 305 Weill Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States; Hesperos Inc., 3259 Progress Dr., Orlando, FL 32826, United States.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Shuler
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Binghamton University, 4400 Vestal Parkway E, Binghamton, NY 13902, United States.
authors.forename: Gretchen J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Mahler
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D032701:Biomimetics; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D060833:Cellular Microenvironment / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D055808:Drug Discovery; D006801:Humans; D056656:Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D008954:Models, Biological
keywords: Barrier tissues; Drug discovery; In vitro modeling; Microfluidic technologies; Microphysiological systems; Organ-on-a-chip