Organ-on-chip platforms for nanoparticle toxicity and efficacy assessment: Advancing beyond traditional in vitro and in vivo models
Ana Rute Sampaio, Renata Maia, Maria Camilla Ciardulli, Hélder A. Santos, Bruno Sarmento
Abstract
Nanoparticles (NPs) have unique properties, such as their high surface-to-volume ratio, nanoscale size, and functionalization potential, make them promising for a variety of biomedical applications, including drug delivery, diagnostics, and targeted therapy. With rapid progress in NPs research, increasing efforts are being made to develop new technologies for in vitro modeling and analysis of the efficacy and safety of nanotherapeutics in human physiological systems. Organ-on-chip (OoC) platforms are a cutting-edge alternative to traditional in vitro and in vivo models that provide a ground-breaking way to evaluate the toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of NPs. This review explores the advancements and achievements in OoC technology, focusing on explore the recent advances in healthy and diseases models and its potential to enhance NPs safety and efficacy. By simulating human biological systems, OoC help identify negative effects and mechanisms of action, reducing preclinical research failures and promoting targeted treatments. These platforms can cut down on drug development time and costs, making them invaluable for personalized medicine. However, challenges such as scalability and regulatory hurdles must be addressed before OoC can become a standard in NPs research and drug development. This review offers a critical and current summary of recent developments in OoC models for nanoformulation screening, emphasizing how they affect preclinical results and how they might be incorporated into the development of nanomedicine. It seeks to assist researchers and professionals in the industry in making well-informed choices regarding the use of these platforms.