@article{6556,
  keywords = {Closed-form solutions, drug diffusion, Interstitial fluid flow, Model validation, skin-on-chip},
  author = {Deepa Chaturvedi and Joydeb Mukherjee and Ratnesh Jain and Prajakta Dandekar},
  title = {In silico approach for validating organ-on-chips: exemplifying through a skin-on-chip device},
  abstract = {The limitations of traditional, animal-model-based preclinical drug testing methodologies have contributed to an extremely high failure rate of new drug candidates in various phases of clinical trials. Organ-on-chip (OoC) technology has emerged as a promising alternative, providing a physiologically relevant microenvironment for drug testing. However, challenges such as high costs, inadequate physiological replication, and particularly the lack of standardized validation approaches have undermined the widespread adoption of OoCs. Additionally, the need for in silico-assisted functional verification to accelerate drug development, reduce investigational expenses, and enhance ethical feasibility has been increasingly experienced by researchers. In this study, we developed and validated a microfluidic skin-on-chip (SoC) platform that supports dynamic skin co-culture for 11 days. The model was characterized by using live-dead cell staining, fluorescent cell tracking, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, and immune-histochemistry analysis. In vitro drug diffusion studies with caffeine and salicylic acid were performed and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography. To enhance predictive accuracy, a mathematical model based on the convection–diffusion equation was developed to simulate passive drug permeation across skin layers. Analytical modeling, solved using a closed-form solution, captured diffusion kinetics and flow patterns, while numerical modeling validated the results through finite element analysis. The model exhibited strong agreement with experimental data (relative error: ±12%) for both drugs, at an initial concentration of 1 mg mL−1. Our microfluidic SoC device, functionally verified using experimental and in silico-assisted approaches, offers a reliable pre-clinical tool for testing chemicals, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and allergens. The investigations support a step forward in the use of new approach methodologies (NAMs) for improving predictive accuracy and standardizing drug permeability assays during the drug development process.},
  year = {2025},
  journal = {Microfluidics and Nanofluidics},
  volume = {30},
  pages = {6},
  month = {2025-12-05},
  issn = {1613-4990},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-025-02863-y},
  doi = {10.1007/s10404-025-02863-y},
  language = {en},
}