Abstract
Bridging the gap between findings in preclinical 2D cell culture models and in vivo tissue cultures has been challenging; the simple microenvironment of 2D monolayer culture systems may not capture the cellular response to drugs accurately. Three-dimensional organotypic models have gained increasing interest due to their ability to recreate precise cellular organizations. These models facilitate investigation of the interactions between different sub-tissue level components through providing physiologically relevant microenvironments for cells in vitro. The incorporation of human-sourced tissues into these models further enables personalized prediction of drug responses. Integration of microfluidic units into the 3D models can be used to control their local environment, dynamic simulation of cell behaviors, and real-time readout of drug testing data. Cancer and immune system related diseases are severe burdens to our health care system and have created an urgent need for high-throughput, and effective drug development plans. This review focuses on recent progress in the development of "cancer-on-a-chip" and "immune organs-on-a-chip" systems designed to study disease progression and predict drug-induced responses. Future challenges and opportunities are also discussed.