DEFINITION
Microphysiological Systems (MPS) are in vitro platforms containing human cells in a microenvironment that recapitulates key aspects of human organ function. Terms used interchangeably include organ-on-chip, tissue chip, organ chip, and body-on-chip. The FDA and NCATS typically use "tissue chip" or "MPS."
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
MICROFLUIDICS
Continuous Flow
Media perfusion mimics blood flow, delivering nutrients and removing waste while applying physiological shear stress.
3D ARCHITECTURE
Tissue Structure
Cells organized in 3D configurations recapitulating tissue architecture and cell-cell interactions.
HUMAN CELLS
Species Relevance
Primary human cells or iPSC-derived cells ensure human-relevant drug responses and disease modeling.
MULTI-CELLULAR
Tissue Complexity
Co-culture of multiple cell types enables modeling of tissue interfaces and cellular crosstalk.