Organkapsler

Organkapsler, literally "organ capsules" in Norwegian, are engineered encapsulation systems designed to contain organs, tissue fragments, or organoids for research, therapy, or diagnostic use. The capsules maintain a controlled microenvironment, permit nutrient and gas exchange, and protect the enclosed tissue from immune attack while preserving function.

Construction relies on biocompatible polymers such as alginate, PLGA, or PEG, paired with semi-permeable membranes. Some designs include microfluidic channels, oxygenation elements, or vascular-mimicking networks to support viability. The form can be spherical, cylindrical, or sheet-like, adapted to the tissue type.

Applications include drug screening with organ-level readouts, disease modelling using patient-derived tissues, and exploratory therapies where a capsule containing functional tissue could be implanted or exchanged. In research, organkapsler provide a contained model to study tissue response, drug diffusion, and host–tissue interactions.

Challenges include maintaining long-term viability, avoiding fibrosis and immune recognition, scaling to clinically relevant sizes, and meeting regulatory standards. Technical hurdles involve nutrient delivery, waste removal, mechanical stability, and preventing rupture or leakage. Ethical and safety considerations shape development and translation.

The term reflects Scandinavian roots, with "org" from organ and "kapsel" meaning capsule. While related to organ-on-a-chip and organoid technologies, organkapsler as a clinical modality remains largely experimental and is primarily discussed in research contexts.