Bioprinting and Organ-on-a-Chip Models: A Revolution in Preclinical Drug Testing

Abstract

Preclinical drug development currently relies heavily on animal models and simplistic two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures, which often fail to predict human physiological responses, leading to high attrition rates in clinical trials. This review explores the transformative potential of advanced in vitro models, specifically 3D bioprinting and organ-on-a-chip (OoC) technologies, to bridge the gap between bench research and clinical application. Bioprinting enables the fabrication of complex, multi-cellular tissue constructs with precise architectural control, mimicking native tissue organization. Organ-on-a-chip platforms utilize microfluidics to recapitulate the dynamic mechanical and biochemical microenvironments essential for organ function. Literature analysis reveals that these technologies significantly enhance the physiological relevance of preclinical screening for drug efficacy and toxicity. Bioprinted tumor models offer superior platforms for anticancer drug testing, while OoC systems excel in modeling pharmacokinetic profiles (ADME) and complex organ-level pathologies. The integration of patient-derived cells with these platforms further enables personalized medicine approaches. While challenges such as vascularization, scalability, and regulatory standardization persist, the convergence of bioprinting and OoC technology promises to drastically reduce reliance on animal testing, lower drug development costs, and improve clinical trial success rates.