microphysiological

Microphysiological describes phenomena or systems that replicate physiological functions at the micro-scale, typically within engineered devices designed to model tissues and organ-level processes. In contemporary biomedical research, the term is closely associated with microphysiological systems (MPS), also known as organ-on-a-chip technologies. These systems combine living cells arranged in microfluidic circuits and three-dimensional scaffolds to recreate key microenvironmental features such as perfusion, shear stress, mechanical stretch, and cell–cell signaling that influence tissue function. By integrating multiple cell types and enabling controlled chemical and mechanical cues, MPS aim to emulate organ-specific physiology more realistically than traditional static cell cultures.

Techniques include microfabrication, microfluidics, 3D bioprinting, hydrogel matrices, and integrated sensors to monitor parameters such as metabolite production, barrier integrity, and electrical activity. Microphysiological platforms can model various organs, including liver, lung, gut, kidney, heart, and brain, sometimes linking multiple organ modules to study systemic responses. They serve as in vitro tools for drug discovery, toxicology, disease modeling, and precision medicine, with the goal of predicting human responses more accurately than conventional models.

Challenges include capturing the full complexity of human physiology, achieving standardization and reproducibility across laboratories, scaling for industrial use, and integrating data across organ modules. Regulatory acceptance is developing, with efforts to validate MPS for safety testing and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic studies. The field also faces ethical considerations related to cell source, animal use reduction, and data stewardship. Overall, microphysiological approaches seek to provide mechanistic insight and translational relevance while reducing reliance on animal models.