The last few decades have witnessed diversified in vitro models to recapitulate the architecture and function of living organs or tissues and contribute immensely to advances in life science. Two novel 3D cell culture models: 1) Organoid, promoted mainly by the developments of stem cell biology and 2) Organ-on-a-chip, enhanced primarily due to microfluidic technology, have emerged as two promising approaches to advance the understanding of basic biological principles and clinical treatments. This review describes the comparable distinct differences between these two models and provides more insights into their complementarity and integration to recognize their merits and limitations for applicable fields. The convergence of the two approaches to produce multi-organoid-on-a-chip or human organoid-on-a-chip is emerging as a new approach for building 3D models with higher physiological relevance. Furthermore, rapid advancements in 3D printing and numerical simulations, which facilitate the design, manufacture, and results-translation of 3D cell culture models, can also serve as novel tools to promote the development and propagation of organoid and organ-on-a-chip systems. Current technological challenges and limitations, as well as expert recommendations and future solutions to address the promising combinations by incorporating organoids, organ-on-a-chip, 3D printing, and numerical simulation, are also summarized.
Keywords: 3D printing; numerical simulations; organ-on-a-chip; organoids; synergistic engineering.
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