Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have developed a groundbreaking 3D-printed “body-on-chip” device that accurately simulates how medications interact with different organs in a patient’s body. This innovation has the potential to replace live animal testing and revolutionize drug development.
The body-on-chip features five components representing the human heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, and brain. These components are interconnected with channels that mimic the circulatory system, allowing medications to be pumped through the system. The device’s design facilitates the testing of drugs to observe their effects on various organs without resorting to live animal experimentation.
A key element of the chip’s functionality is its use of positron emission tomography (PET) scanning, which generates detailed 3D images illustrating the internal workings of the replicated organs. PET scanning involves injecting a safe radioactive tracer to detect diseased cells and can provide insights into the early signs of conditions like cancer, heart disease, and brain disorders.
The PET imaging capability ensures an even flow of drugs being tested within the chip. Liam Carr, the inventor of the body-on-chip, highlighted the significance of PET imagery in maintaining consistent drug distribution.
The innovation has the potential to reduce reliance on animal testing in the early stages of drug development, a process that involves thousands of animals globally. Notably, many drugs tested on animals fail to exhibit clinical benefits.
Dr. Adriana Tavares, supervisor to Liam Carr, emphasized the device’s value as a tool for investigating various human diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular conditions. By linking five organs on a single device, scientists can comprehensively study the potential impacts of new medicines on a patient’s entire body.
The body-on-chip represents a significant advancement in medical research and could contribute to more ethical and efficient drug development processes.
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