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Microtechnology for Mimicking In Vivo Tissue Environment

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Abstract

Microtechnology provides a new approach for reproducing the in vivo environment in vitro. Mimicking the microenvironment of the natural tissues allows cultured cells to behave in a more authentic manner, and gives researchers more realistic platforms to study biological systems. In this review article, we discuss the physiochemical aspects of in vivo cellular microenvironment, and relevant technologies that can be used to mimic those aspects. Secondly we identify the core methods used in microtechnology for biomedical applications. Finally we examine the recent application areas of microtechnology, with a focus on reproducing the functions of specific organs, or whole-body response such as homeostasis or metabolism-dependent toxicity of drugs. These new technologies enable researchers to ask and answer questions in a manner that has not been possible with conventional, macroscale technologies.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Army Corp of Engineers (CERL, W9132T-07), Nanobiotechnology center (NBTC), National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF, Grant no. 2011-0013862), Hongik University new faculty research support fund, and 2011 Hongik University Research Fund.

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  1. Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul, Korea

    Jong Hwan Sung

  2. Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, 115 Weill Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA

    Michael L. Shuler

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Associate Editor Tingrui Pan oversaw the review of this article.

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Sung, J.H., Shuler, M.L. Microtechnology for Mimicking In Vivo Tissue Environment. Ann Biomed Eng 40, 1289–1300 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-011-0491-2

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