Brain-on-a-chip technology for modeling psychiatric disorders: A new frontier in precision psychiatry
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Brain-on-a-chip (BoC) technology is an emerging human-relevant platform for investigating complex neuropsychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD) and schizophrenia. By integrating microfluidic systems with human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neural cells, three-dimensional cultures, multiregion architectures, microelectrode arrays, and biosensors, BoC platforms enable controlled investigation of neural connectivity, network activity, and cellular interactions. iPSC-based models provide disease-relevant phenotypes that may support the development of more complex psychiatric BoC systems; however, dedicated and comprehensively validated BoC models for MDD and schizophrenia remain limited. Important challenges include incomplete cellular maturation and complexity, limited vascular and immune integration, technical variability, long-term stability, and insufficient clinical validation. Future advances integrating patient-specific cells, artificial intelligence, multi-omics, and standardized multimodal measurements may improve disease modeling and therapeutic research. With rigorous disease-specific validation and stronger links to clinically characterized data, BoC technology may contribute to the future development of precision psychiatry.
Source: AIMS neuroscience
Institutions: Jahangirnagar University, Badji Mokhtar-Annaba University, Bangladesh University of Professionals, Université de ain Témouchent, University of Georgia, Sir Salimullah Medical College, Mitford Hospital, Dhaka, Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, Brunel University of London, Chittagong Medical College, Université Mustapha Stambouli de Mascara
Language: English
Subfield: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $300
OpenAlex ID: W7223308339