Peripheral nerve sheath tumors-on-a-chip: Next-generation platforms for mechanistic and therapeutic studies
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Recapitulation of the complex nerve-tumor-immune microenvironment is critical for understanding Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors (PNSTs). Conventional in vitro models and animal systems often struggle to model crucial intercellular and inter-organ communication with full physiological relevance, creating a bottleneck in discovering effective therapeutics. Organ-on-Chip (OoC) technologies offer a paradigm-shifting solution. These microengineered platforms precisely integrate human cell biology with controllable fluidic and mechanical cues to replicate tissue- and organ-level physiology, enabling real-time, quantitative monitoring of tissue dynamics. This review posits that OoC technology is poised to revolutionize PNST research. In this review, we summarize the development of advanced Tumor-Nerve-Immune-on-Chip systems that integrate patient-derived Schwann cells, immune components, and functional microvasculature. These systems will accurately model PNSTs. Adoption of OoC will enable a predictive and individualized experimental framework, accelerating therapeutic discovery and allowing for personalized drug prediction for these challenging diseases.
Source: Materials Today Advances
Language: English
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,790
Funders: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Georgia Clinical and Translational Science Alliance, National Institutes of Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, Maternal and Child Health Bureau
Awards: G2485423825, Redefining Clinical Viscosity in Sickle Cell Diseaseby Leveraging Microfluidic Technologies, Platelet-like particles for augmenting hemostasis, G6122061512, Unraveling the immune response to factor VIII, G687203789, Modeling atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome with hydrogel-based microvasculature-on-chip technologies, Institutional Career Development Core, Engineering biophysical microtechnologies for hematologic applications in health and disease, Georgia Clinical & Translational Science Alliance (Georgia CTSA)
OpenAlex ID: W7154564254