Organ-on-a-Chip Platforms for Drug Discovery and Personalized Medicine: Current Advances, Applications and Future Perspective

Authors

  • Twinsi Ashishbhai Prajapati Sharda School of Pharmacy, Pethapur, Gandhinagar, Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
  • Krupa Kalpeshbhai Akbari Sharda School of Pharmacy, Pethapur, Gandhinagar, Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
  • Shrutiben Piyushbhai Patel Sharda School of Pharmacy, Pethapur, Gandhinagar, Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
  • Shreyaben Piyushbhai Patel Sharda School of Pharmacy, Pethapur, Gandhinagar, Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
  • Amar M. Raval ORCiD Sharda School of Pharmacy, Pethapur, Gandhinagar, Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
  • Aastha Ukani Department of Pharmacy Practice, Sharda School of Pharmacy, Pethapur, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India

Keywords:

Artificial intelligence, disease modeling, drug discovery, microfluidics, microphysiological systems, multi-organ systems, organoids-on-chips, organ-on-a-chip, personalized medicine, precision pharmacology, predictive toxicology, tissue engineering

Abstract

Organ-on-a-chip  (OOC) technology has emerged as a transformative microphysiological platform that addresses the limitations of conventional two-dimensional cell cultures and animal models in recapitulating human physiology. By integrating microfluidics, tissue engineering, biomaterials and living human cells within controlled microenvironments, OOC systems can recapitulate key structural, mechanical and biochemical features of native tissues and organs. Recent advances have enabled the development of diverse organ-specific and multi-organ  platforms capable of modeling complex physiological  and pathological processes, including  tissue-tissue interactions, barrier function, immune responses and drug-induced toxicity. Furthermore, the integration of organ-on-a-chip technology with stem-cell-derived organoids has enhanced biological fidelity by combining self-organizing tissue architecture with precise environmental control. These platforms have demonstrated significant potential for disease modeling, predictive toxicology, efficacy screening, pharmacokinetic studies and personalized medicine through the use of patient-derived cells and disease-specific models. The emerging integration of artificial intelligence and advanced biosensing technologies further expands their capacity for automated analysis, high-content data interpretation and precision pharmacology. Despite substantial progress, challenges related to standardization, reproducibility, scalability, regulatory validation and commercialization continue to limit widespread  adoption.  This  review examines the engineering foundations, biological applications and translational significance of organ-on-a-chip systems, with particular  emphasis on their roles in drug discovery and personalized medicine. Additionally, current limitations, regulatory considerations and future perspectives are discussed to evaluate the potential of these platforms as next-generation  tools  for human-relevant biomedical research and precision therapeutics.

References

Ingber DE. Reverse engineering human pathophysiology with organs-on-chips. Cell. 2016;164(6):1105-1109.

Neužil P, Giselbrecht S, Länge K, Huang TJ, Manz A. Revisiting lab-on-a-chip technology for drug discovery. Nat Revs Drug Discovery. 2012;11:620-632.

Ronaldson-Bouchard K, Vunjak-Novakovic G. Organs-on-a-chip: A fast track for engineered human tissues in drug development. Cell Stem Cell. 2018;22(3):310-324.

Ingber DE. Human organs-on-chips for disease modelling, drug development and personalized medicine. Nat Revs Genet. 2022;23:467-491.

Li Z, Hui J, Yang P, Mao H. Microfluidic organ-on-a-chip system for disease modeling and drug development. Biosensors. [Internet]. 2022;12(6). Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060370

Ma C, Peng Y, Li H, Chen W. Organ-on-a-chip: A new paradigm for drug development. Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2021;42(2):119-133.

Mittal R, Woo FW, Castro CS, Cohen MA, Karanxha J, Mittal J et al. Organ‐on‐chip models: Implications in drug discovery and clinical applications. J Cell Physiol. 2018;234(6):8352-8380.

Bein A, Shin W, Jalili-Firoozinezhad S, Park MH, Sontheimer-Phelps A, Tovaglieri A et al. Microfluidic organ-on-a-chip models of human intestine. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2018;5(4):659-668.

Wang Y, Gao Y, Pan Y, Zhou D, Liu Y, Yin Y et al. Emerging trends in organ-on-a-chip systems for drug screening. Acta Pharm Sin B. 2023;13(6):2483-2509.

Zhao Y, Landau S, Okhovatian S, Liu C, Lu RXZ, Lai BFL et al. Integrating organoids and organ-on-a-chip devices. Nat Revs Bioeng. 2024;2:588-608.

Deng S, Li C, Cao J, Cui Z, Du J, Fu Z et al. Organ-on-a-chip meets artificial intelligence in drug evaluation. Theranostics. 2023;13(13):4526-4558.

Zhou L, Huang J, Li C, Gu Q, Li G, Li ZA et al. Organoids and organs-on-chips: Recent advances, applications in drug development, and regulatory challenges. Med. [Internet]. 2025;6(4). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medj.2025.100667

Monteduro AG, Rizzato S, Caragnano G, Trapani A, Giannelli G, Maruccio G. Organs-on-chips technologies – A guide from disease models to opportunities for drug development. Biosens Bioelectron. [Internet]. 2023;231. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2023.115271

Roth A. Human microphysiological systems for drug development. Science. 2021;373(6561):1304-1306.

Saorin G, Caligiuri I, Rizzolio F. Microfluidic organoids-on-a-chip: The future of human models. Semin Cell Deval Biol. 2023;144:41-54.

Osaki T, Uzel SGM, Kamm RD. On-chip 3d neuromuscular model for drug screening and precision medicine in neuromuscular disease. Nat Protoc. 2020;15:421-449.

Jang KJ, Otieno MA, Ronxhi J, Lim HK, Ewart L, Kodella KR et al. Reproducing human and cross-species drug toxicities using a liver-chip. Sci Transl Med. [Internet]. 2019;11(517). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.aax5516

Skardal A, Murphy SV, Devarasetty M, Mead I, Kang HW, Seol YJ et al. Multi-tissue interactions in an integrated three-tissue organ-on-a-chip platform. Sci Rep. [Internet]. 2017;7. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-08879-x

Ewart L, Apostolou A, Briggs SA, Carman CV, Chaff JT, Heng AR et al. Performance assessment and economic analysis of a human liver-chip for predictive toxicology. Commun Med. [Internet]. 2022;2. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-022-00209-1

Zhou C, Li Z, Lu K, Liu Y, Xuan L, Mao H et al. Advances in human organs-on-chips and applications for drug screening and personalized medicine. Fundam Res. 2025;5(3):1258-1272.

Victorious A. Current applications of organ-on-a-chip: A step closer to personalized medicine. Bio Integration. 2022;3(4):143-150.

Ko J, Song J, Choi N, Kim HN. Patient‐derived microphysiological systems for precision medicine. Adv Healthcare Mater. [Internet]. 2023;13(7). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202303161

Downloads

Published

2026-09-07

Issue

Section

Research Article

How to Cite

1.
Prajapati TA, Akbari KK, Patel SP, Patel SP, Raval AM, Ukani A. Organ-on-a-Chip Platforms for Drug Discovery and Personalized Medicine: Current Advances, Applications and Future Perspective. Pharmacol. Toxicol. Res. [Internet]. 2026 Sep. 7 [cited 2026 Sep. 8];2:29–40. Available from: https://acadpub.com/ptr/article/view/organ-on-a-chip-platforms-drug-discovery-personalized-medicine