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Organs-on a chip technology

Lidia Tomás

06 Jul 2016

Did you know we can study human organs inside microchips? This innovative field, known as organ-on a chip technology, is transforming how we investigate the human bodys response to chemicals, food ingredients, drugs and cosmetics. These microfluidic devicesabout the size of a USB stickrealistically simulate the physiological functions of human organs (intestine, liver, skin) using living cell cultures.

Organs-on a chip technology: potential and applications

A liver-on-a-chip that reveals drug metabolism without human testing; a brain-on-a-chip to screen neurotherapeutics without exposing patients; or a kidney-on-a-chip that reproduces filtration, reabsorption and excretion to refine renal toxicity assessment. These examples highlight how organ-on a chip technology provides advanced, human-relevant models for biomedical research. Beyond medicine, organ-on a chip technology is also emerging as a powerful platform to evaluate the safety, efficacy and functionality of compounds across industrial sectors. By precisely mimicking human organ functions, it enables more predictive, animal-free studies.

Food applications: bioaccessibility, metabolism and microbiota

In food science, intestine-on-a-chip models simulate the digestive process and the absorption of nutrients or functional ingredients along the gastrointestinal tract. This is key to:

Studying bioavailability of bioactives (polyphenols, probiotics, vitamins, peptides).

Analysing interactions with the intestinal microbiota under dynamic, controlled conditions.

Evaluating potential inflammatory or immunomodulatory effects of novel ingredients.

Built on dynamic in vitro methodologies aligned with organ-on a chip technology, these systems replicate essential GI functions, providing high reproducibility and physiological fidelityideal for validating functional foods, nutraceuticals and innovative supplements.

Cosmetic applications: sustainability, dermal safety and active-ingredient efficacy

In cosmetics, organ-on a chip technology offers a breakthrough to assess dermal toxicity, efficacy of active ingredients, and their interaction with human skinwithout animal testing. Skin-on-a-chip models reproduce key skin layers and functions (epidermal barrier, local immune response, vascularisation), enabling:

Assessment of skin irritation/sensitisation in new formulas.

Studies on transdermal penetration and behaviour of nanomaterials or encapsulated actives.

Real-time efficacy readouts for antioxidants, peptides or UV filters under simulated physiological conditions.

These approaches align with ethical, sustainable R&D and European regulatory expectations.

Pharmaceutical applications: faster development and personalised medicine

Organ-on a chip technology is reshaping drug R&D. Microfluidic systems simulate complex human physiologycirculation, hepatic metabolism, bloodbrain barrierin controlled, reproducible environments, enabling teams to:

Evaluate pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics early.

Study hepatic, renal and cardiac toxicity with greater human relevance than animal models.

Test efficacy in simulated disease states (e.g., fatty liver, inflamed intestine).

Advance personalised medicine using patient-derived cells to anticipate individual responses.

The result: accelerated timelines, lower costs and improved human predictivity, boosting clinical success rates. Alongside organ-on a chip technology, in vitro bioaccessibility and bioavailability assays are driving safer, more efficient innovation aligned with regulations and consumer expectationsshaping a new era of sustainable, science-based R&D in food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Funded by the aid program for hiring young professionals specialized in internationalization

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Lidia Tomás

Responsable Estudios Preclínicos con modelos in vitro

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