24 million for the development of an "organism-on-a-chip"
Specialists of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, led by Dr. Anthony Atala, have launched a unique project dedicated to the development of an "organism-on-a–chip" - a system of miniature analogues of human organs designed to simulate the body's reactions to chemical and biological agents and the development of new therapies.
This approach will reduce the volume of testing on animals, the disadvantages of which include high cost, long duration, as well as the fact that the results obtained do not always apply to humans. The Command of Space Assets and Combat Support Systems (Space & Naval Warfare Systems Command) and the Office of Control over the Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (Defense Threat Reduction Agency) allocated 24 million US dollars to carry out the project.
Video. On the right, you can observe the synchronous contraction of three cardiac organoids. Miniature models of the heart are created by genetic reprogramming of human skin cells into contracting cardiomyocytes and the subsequent formation of balls or spheroids from them in cell culture. After that, using a three-dimensional printer, spheroids can be applied to the surface of the chip in the form of organoids of different shapes and sizes. On the left, the liver organoid (darker) is connected to the heart organoid. The size of each organoid is approximately 0.25 mm in diameter.
The concept of an "organism-on-a-chip" has become a reality thanks to advances in micro-tissue engineering and microfluidic technologies. It is based on developments in the field of electronic industry, but instead of miniaturizing electronic devices, researchers are miniaturizing models of human organs placed on a chip, monitoring devices and laboratory processes.
The project involves using human cells to create tiny organ-like structures that reproduce the functions of the heart, kidneys, lungs and blood vessels. Placed on a chip measuring 5 centimeters, these structures will be interconnected by a system of microfluidic channels and sensors, which will ensure continuous monitoring of both individual organs and the entire system as a whole.
The circulating blood substitute will support the vital activity of the blood. It can also be used to introduce a system of chemical or biological agents, as well as experimental drugs. Hollow channels will ensure the movement of toxins or drugs from one tissue to another, and sensors will assess temperature, oxygen levels, acidity and other parameters in real time.
To apply organoids to the surface of the chip, researchers at Wake Forest Medical Center will use a unique three-dimensional printer. A number of other research institutions will take part in the project, each of which has its own task:
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Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston – development of bioengineered devices for controlling the behavior of cells at the micro and nanoscale;
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University of Michigan – development of micromodels of the body and myomolecular devices and technologies for high-performance drug testing;
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Edgewood Chemical and Biological Center of the U.S. Army - research, development and testing of chemical warfare agents;
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Morgan State University – laboratory testing of cell cultures to identify the ideal blood substitute;
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Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University – Toxicity testing and identification.
Although the idea of cultivating three-dimensional fragments of human tissue on a chip is not new, this project will be one of the first attempts to create a system of several organs within a single device to simulate the reaction of the human body to chemical toxins and biological agents. The developers also hope that this system will allow identifying "presymptomatic" markers of exposure and evaluating the effectiveness of therapy.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center:
Wake Forest Baptist Leads $24 million Project to Develop “Body on a Chip”.
23.04.2015