Open AccessHuman Organoids and Organs‐on‐Chips for Addressing COVID‐19 Challenges
Author(s) -
Wang Yaqing,
Wang Peng,
Qin Jianhua
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
advanced science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.388
H-Index - 100
ISSN - 2198-3844
DOI - 10.1002/advs.202105187
Subject(s) - covid-19 , organoid , pandemic , coronavirus , computational biology , middle east respiratory syndrome , biology , medicine , neuroscience , disease , virology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , pathology , outbreak
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), poses an imminent threat to our lives. Although animal models and monolayer cell cultures are utilized for pathogenesis studies and the development of COVID‐19 therapeutics, models that can more accurately reflect human‐relevant responses to this novel virus are still lacking. Stem cell organoids and bioengineered organs‐on‐chips have emerged as two cutting‐edge technologies used to construct biomimetic in vitro three‐dimensional (3D) tissue or organ models. In this review, the key features of these two model systems that allow them to recapitulate organ physiology and function are introduced. The recent progress of these technologies for virology research is summarized and their utility in meeting the COVID‐19 pandemic is highlighted. Future opportunities and challenges in the development of advanced human organ models and their potential to accelerate translational applications to provide vaccines and therapies for COVID‐19 and other emerging epidemics are also discussed.