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Organomimetic microsystems technologies

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Abstract

Microscale engineering technologies derived from the semiconductor and microelectronics industries provide new opportunities in biology to create and precisely control three-dimensional cell culture microenvironments in a physiologically relevant and organ-specific context. Here we review recent advances in the development of ‘Organs-on-Chips’ in which microsystems technologies have been applied to develop cell culture systems that recapitulate the structural, biochemical, and mechanical characteristics of living organs in order to mimic their complex physiology in vitro. We highlight these new capabilities and advantages enabled by microengineered tissue and organ mimics to show their potential as robust alternatives to conventional two- and three-dimensional cell culture systems, as well as a potential replacement for animal models. We also discuss how this biomimetic microengineering approach is beginning to meet challenges in drug development and environmental testing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Interdisciplinary Program, Bioengineering Major, Graduate School, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

    Jiheum Park & Kwang Bok Kim

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea

    Jungchul Lee

  3. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea

    Hee Chan Kim & Dongeun Huh

Authors
  1. Jiheum Park
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  2. Kwang Bok Kim
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  3. Jungchul Lee
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  4. Hee Chan Kim
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  5. Dongeun Huh
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dongeun Huh.

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Park, J., Kim, K.B., Lee, J. et al. Organomimetic microsystems technologies. Biomed. Eng. Lett. 2, 88–94 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13534-012-0059-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13534-012-0059-6

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