Strategies for using mathematical modeling approaches to design and interpret multi-organ microphysiological systems (MPS)

Recent advances in organ-on-a-chip technology have resulted in numerous examples of microscale systems that faithfully mimic the physiology and pathology of human organs and diseases. The next step in this field, which has already been partially demonstrated at a proof-of-concept level, would be integration of organ modules to construct multiorgan microphysiological systems (MPSs). In particular, there is interest in “body-on-a-chip” models, which recapitulate complex and dynamic interactions between different organs. Integration of multiple organ modules, while faithfully reflecting human physiology in a quantitative sense, will require careful consideration of factors such as relative organ sizes, blood flow rates, cell numbers, and ratios of cell types. The use of a mathematical modeling platform will be an essential element in designing multiorgan MPSs and interpretation of experimental results. Also, extrapolation to in vivo will require robust mathematical modeling techniques. So far, several scaling methods and pharmacokinetic and physiologically based pharmacokinetic models have been applied to multiorgan MPSs, with each method being suitable to a subset of different objectives. Here, we summarize current mathematical methodologies used for the design and interpretation of multiorgan MPSs and suggest important considerations and approaches to allow multiorgan MPSs to recapitulate human physiology and disease progression better, as well as help in vitro to in vivo translation of studies on response to drugs or chemicals.