Hydrogels and microfluidics: toward more physiologically relevant organ-on-a-chip models

Abstract

Hydrogel-integrated organ-on-a-chip (OoC) models have emerged as a promising platform for recapitulating the complexity of native human tissues. This review highlights the role of hydrogels as tissue-specific extracellular matrix (ECM) mimics, focusing on the physicochemical properties that regulate cellular behaviour and tissue function in three-dimensional (3D) systems. We also explore the contribution of microfluidic systems in further enhancing physiological relevance by integrating multiple microenvironmental cues, including dynamic biochemical gradients, biophysical stimuli, tissue architecture, temporal regulation, 3D cellular arrangements, and ECM incorporation. Following a discussio..