Abstract
Kidney organoids, replicating human development, pathology, and drug responses, are a promising model for advancing bioscience and pharmaceutical innovation. However, reproducibility, accuracy, and quantification challenges hinder their broader utility for advanced biological and pharmaceutical applications. Herein, we present a dynamic kidney organoid microphysiological analysis platform (MAP), designed to enhance organoid modeling and assays within physiologically relevant environments, thereby expanding their utility in advancing kidney physiology and pathology research. First, precise control of the dynamic microenvironment in MAP enhances the ability to fine-tune nephrogenic intricacies, facilitating high-throughput and reproducible human kidney organoid development. Also, MAP's miniaturization of kidney organoids significantly advances pharmaceutical research by allowing for detailed analysis of entire nephron segments, which is crucial for assessing the nephrotoxicity and safety of drugs. Furthermore, the MAP's application in disease modeling faithfully recapitulates pathological development and functions as a valuable testbed for therapeutic exploration in polycystic kidney diseases. We envision the kidney organoid MAP enhancing pharmaceutical research, standardizing processes, and improving analytics, thereby elevating the quality and utility of organoids in biology, pharmacology, precision medicine, and education.
Competing Interest Statement
R.M. is an inventor on a patent related to this work filed by President and Fellows of Harvard College and Mass General Brigham (PCT/US2018/036677 licensed to Trestle Biotherapeutics). R.M. holds a stock option in Trestle Biotherapeutics. R.M. served as a consultant to Toray Industries, and Ajinomoto. J.V.B. is a co-inventor of kidney organoid patents assigned to Mass General Brigham.