Page 28 - IJB-10-1

International

Journal of Bioprinting

REVIEW ARTICLE
Application of biomaterial-based three-

dimensional bioprinting for organ-on-a-chip
fabrication

Joeng Ju Kim , Mihyeon Bae , Jongmin Kim , and Dong-Woo Cho *
1,2
1,2
1,2
1,2
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH),
Pohang, Kyungbuk, Republic of Korea
2 POSTECH-Catholic Biomedical Engineering Institute, Pohang University of Science and
Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Kyungbuk, Republic of Korea
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: 3D Bioprinting Hydrogels and Organ-On-Chip)

Abstract

An organ-on-a-chip is a microfluidic device that simulates the microenvironment of
organs, facilitating the study of human physiology and disease mechanisms. Through
the integration of tissue engineering and micromachining technologies, it effectively
manages the cellular microenvironment and implements tissue-specific functions
and physiological responses with high fidelity. Several factors must be appropriately
considered in the fabrication of an organ-on-a-chip, including the choice of
biomaterials to simulate the extracellular matrix (ECM), selection of cells constituting
the target organ, incorporation of humanized design to realize the primary function
and structure of the organ, and the use of appropriate biofabrication methods to
build a tissue-specific environment. Notably, three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting
has emerged as a promising method for biofabricating organ-on-a-chip. Three-
*Correspondence author:
Dong-Woo Cho dimensional bioprinting offers versatility in adapting to various biomaterials with
(dwcho@postech.ac.kr) different physical properties, allowing precise control of 3D cell arrays and facilitating
Citation: Kim JJ, Bae M, Kim cyclic movements of fluidic flow within microfluidic platforms. These capabilities
J, Cho D-W. Application of enable the precise fabrication of organ-on-a-chip that reflects tissue-specific
biomaterial-based three-dimensional functions and microenvironments. Additionally, 3D-bioprinted organ-on-a-chip
bioprinting for organ-on-a-
chip fabrication. Int J Bioprint. can serve as a disease-on-a-chip platform, achieved through the implementation of
2024;10(1):1972. pathophysiological environments and integration with devices such as bioreactors.
doi: 10.36922/ijb.1972 Their significance in pharmacology research lies in their exceptional resemblance to
Received: October 6, 2023 the 3D microenvironment structure of actual organs, which are conducive for the
Accepted: November 6, 2023 validation of sequential mechanism of drug action. This review describes recent
Published Online: January 2, 2024
examples of organ-on-a-chip applications for various organs and state-of-the-art
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s). 3D bioprinting techniques employed in organ-on-a-chip fabrication. The discussion
This is an Open Access article extends to the future prospects of this technology, encompassing aspects such
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution as commercialization through mass production and its potential application in
License, permitting distribution, personalized medicine or drug-screening platforms. Serving as a relevant guide, this
and reproduction in any medi- review offers insights for future research and developments in in vitro micromodel
um, provided the original work is
properly cited. fabrication.
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with Keywords: 3D bioprinting; Organ-on-a-chip; Disease-on-a-chip; Biomaterial;
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional Bioink; Hydrogel
affiliations.

Volume 10 Issue 1 (2024) 20 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijb.1972