Application and prospects of organoid-on-a-chip in research on the intestinal mucosal barrier

The integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier is essential for maintaining normal gut physiology, and its disruption is associated with a wide range of conditions, including trauma- and burn-related intestinal injury, which remain difficult to manage clinically. Intestinal organoid-on-a-chip systems have emerged as advanced in vitro models that reproduce key features of the intestinal microenvironment and physiological function. These systems have shown promise for studying mucosal injury and repair, assessing therapeutic strategies, and supporting translational research. This review summarizes the basic principles of intestinal organoid-on-a-chip technology and examines its use in modeling intestinal barrier function, inflammatory responses, drug screening, regenerative approaches, and trauma-related barrier repair. It also reviews recent progress in preclinical studies, considers potential applications in gastrointestinal research, and discusses current technical challenges, particularly those related to scalability and reproducibility. Future directions for the development of next-generation systems are also outlined. With the continued integration of advances across disciplines, these platforms may provide useful tools for studying and treating disorders involving the intestinal mucosal barrier, especially in the context of trauma and burns.