Neeraj Katiyar

Information obtained from animal models and cell cultures is a vital tool for therapeutic identification, disease research, and preclinical trials. However, ethical considerations and complexity associated with animal models limit their applications. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate a different research tool that can reduce animal usage and also mimic the complex microenvironment and higher-level organization of tissue and organism. Interestingly, microfluidic technology or Lab-on-a-chip has been proven to be a valuable tool for creating a platform for engineering highly complex and dynamic in vivo-like microenvironments. Regardless of the opportunities in Lab-on-a-chip platforms, there are challenges in engineering functional tissue equivalents that require careful attention. Here, we are utilizing the properties of microfluidic systems along with three-dimensional cellular structures to design and fabricate systems. These systems facilitate the mechanical and biochemical signals in a more physiologically relevant context. The understanding of the outcomes of these biologically relevant factors could provide an alternative to animal models for drug discovery and development.