TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW
Body-on-chip systems connect multiple organ chips through microfluidic channels to model systemic drug effects. These platforms enable study of drug metabolism across organs, off-target toxicity detection, and pharmacokinetic modeling that single-organ systems cannot achieve.
MAJOR PLATFORMS
- DARPA Interrogator: 10-organ system with automated fluid handling
- Wyss Institute: 15+ organ coupling with physiological scaling
- CN Bio PhysioMimix: Commercial 7-organ platform
- TissUse HUMIMIC: 4-organ German engineering platform
KEY APPLICATIONS
- First-Pass Metabolism: Gut-liver axis for oral drug absorption
- Off-Target Toxicity: Detecting unexpected organ effects
- PK/PD Modeling: Physiologically-based drug distribution
- Drug-Drug Interactions: Multi-organ metabolic interference
SYSTEMS PHARMACOLOGY
Multi-organ systems enable true systems pharmacology—understanding how drugs affect the body as an integrated system rather than isolated organs. This is critical for predicting clinical outcomes and reducing late-stage failures.