Microfluidic-based modeling of human tissue barriers

Tissue barrier-on-chip, a type of organ-on-a-chip, replicates the physiological microenvironments of human tissue barriers on a microfluidic platform. This chip garners attention as a complementary solution to animal testing in the drug development process by precisely mimicking the core functions of tissue barriers, such as regulating substance transport, on a small scale. In this paper, we review microfluidic-based tissue barrier-on-chip and introduce the engineering design elements necessary for a more sophisticated reproduction of physiological conditions. We also describe methodologies for evaluating barrier integrity within the chip to successfully recapitulate barrier function. Finally, we discuss the extended potential applications of tissue barrier-on-chip in biomedical engineering research.