Liver-on-a-Chip (LoC) Models: Case Studies of Academic Platforms and Commercial Products

Pharmaceutical companies place significant importance on the liver due to its crucial role in numerous biochemical processes, specifically in drug metabolism. This focus has led to significant progress in liver-on-a-chip (LoC) technology, which has proven useful not only in drug development but also in more advanced applications. As a result, elaboration and incorporation of advanced LoC models into preclinical workflows have great potential to decrease R&D expenses and reduce or even replace animal testing, while improving the safety and efficacy of new therapies. To explore this potential, the present review provides an overview of recent academic and commercial LoC models, examines their different designs and cellular compositions, and evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of their complexity. A systematic comparison of these models is then performed, along with a discussion of their current challenges and future perspectives. Ultimately, we hope this review will assist scientists and industry professionals in selecting optimal models and in contributing to future advancements in LoC technology.