Convergence of Bioinspired Biosensors and Bioelectronics and Biomimetic In Vitro 3D Models: Design and Application

Dear Colleagues,

Conventional pre-clinal human disease models are usually developed based on 2D cell culture or animal models. Due to the limitations such as differences in species, low throughput and/or lack of in vivo complexities, these models are susceptible to increasing the failure rate and the cost in the pre-clinical discovery of new drugs as well as the validation of therapeutic efficacy. With the advancement of organoids, microfluidic and 3D printing technologies, we have witnessed significant progress in creating the microphysiological environment for organs-on-chips. The recently passed US FDA Modernisation Act 2.0 has implemented the microphysiological systems as alternative evaluations of drug regulation pathways. We therefore envisage that the advanced human models integrated with state-of-the-art bioanalytical technologies will become powerful tools in the discovery of new drugs and therapeutic modalities towards personalized therapy. 

This Research Topic welcomes publications including original research articles in full length, short communications, review articles, opinions and perspectives covering the recent advances and challenges in the following categories.

1. The state-of-the-art techniques to develop patient-derived in vitro or ex vivo models that can recapitulate key characteristics of various diseases.
2. The state-of-the-art techniques for sensing or imaging specific biomarkers associated with the onset and progression of disease within the patient-derived in vitro or ex vivo disease models.
3. The discovery of novel drugs and therapeutic modalities within the patient-derived in vitro or ex vivo disease models, particularly in using the state-of-the-art bioanalytical techniques (e.g., biosensing or bioimaging).

The main scope of the Research Topic covers new concepts in the development of advanced human models, the novel bioanalytical technologies integrated with human models, and the use of human models to address fundamental biological questions and to validate therapeutic efficacy in vitro. We welcome submissions including (but not limited to) the following themes:

• Development of advanced in vitro and ex vivo disease models;
• Microfluidic organ/organoid-on-chip;
• In-model biosensing and bioimaging;
• In-model bioanalytical techniques;
• Drug discovery and screening based on human models;
• Validation of therapeutic modalities (e.g., chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy) based on human models.

Dr. Zhaobin Guo
Dr. Chih-Tsung Yang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• in vitro model
• organ-on-chip
• organoids
• patient-derived explants
• personalized medicine
• biosensors