What if we could replicate the complexities of human organs, not in a lab dish, but on a micro-scale platform that mimics the dynamic interplay of cells, tissues, and microenvironments? This is not science fiction but a pioneering leap into the future of biomedical research. Enter organ on chip technology, where science meets imagination, emerging as a revolutionary concept that pushes the boundaries of conventional research.
Let’s talk more about this technology as we move forward in this blog.
What is Organ on Chip?
An organ on chip (OOC) refers to a microfluidic cell culture device that simulates the structure and function of living human organs. These devices are designed to replicate the complex microenvironment of specific organs, incorporating cell types, tissue architecture, and physiological conditions to mimic organ-level responses in a controlled laboratory setting.
OOC technology aims to provide a more accurate representation of human organ functions compared to traditional cell cultures or animal models. By integrating multiple cells and tissues onto a small chip, researchers can study the interactions and responses of organs more realistically and dynamically, offering potential advancements in drug testing, disease modeling, and personalized medicine. The technology is gaining massive popularity and the organ on chip market is foreseen to generate revenue of $173.3 million by 2028, as per estimations by Extrapolate.
How Does Organ on Chip Technology Work?
Organ on chip technology, also called tissue chips, is a technology that grows artificial or natural small tissues from different organs inside tiny fluid channels that are molded into silicon, glass, or polymers. The minuscule quantities of solution are guided and manipulated by the hair-fine microchannels to produce settings that replicate one or more tissue-specific functions. They are accurate representations of human physiology and illness, although they are less complex than real organs or tissues.
The chip's microenvironment replicates the conditions found in organs, including tissue interfaces and mechanical stimulation. This enables it to accurately mimic the physiological functions of living tissue, surpassing conventional cell-based models in terms of accuracy. This advanced technology proves especially valuable in creating models for complex diseases that arise from the intricate interaction between multiple organs.
OoC technology serves as a means of connecting 2D and 3D cell cultures, like spheroids and organoids derived from stem cells. It achieves this by creating more finely tuned microenvironments that enhance the accuracy and relevance of these models to in vivo conditions. This technology facilitates the study of human physiology in a manner specific to individual organs, enabling the replication of various cell and organ behaviors. Ultimately, it allows for the mimicking of complex physiological or pathological processes involving one or multiple organs.
Advantages of Organ on Chip Technology
Advancements in biomedical engineering, such as organ-on-a-chip technology, offer numerous benefits. This innovative approach involves creating compartments within microfluidic devices, which enhances control over the microenvironment by restricting cells. Additionally, the micro channels' laminar structure enables the development of sub-compartments.
The compartmentalization of different components allows for precise control over physical factors and the manipulation of communication between various tissue types. By utilizing organ-on-a-chip technology, it is possible to ensure an optimal provision of nutrients and oxygen while effectively eliminating waste products.
The configuration of organ on chip systems differs as they aim to replicate the fundamental structure of organs by arranging specific cell types within microfluidic devices. In most cases, a porous membrane is employed to establish cell layers in organ-on-a-chip models.
The membranes can serve as a platform for communication between endothelial and epithelial cell layers. In addition, by applying mechanical forces, the device can simulate the physical microenvironment of living organs, imitating functions like the breathing movements of the lungs.
Organ on Chip and Drug Testing
During the emergence of modern medicine, experiments involving the use of animals have been conducted. Animal models were utilized as the sole means to gather real-time data that could anticipate physiological reactions in humans. However, there are drawbacks associated with animal testing such as its time-consuming nature, high costs, and the potential for controversy. Moreover, doubts have been raised regarding the reliability of results obtained from animal testing due to limitations in extrapolating findings across different species.
Therefore, Organ-on-a-chip technology emerged as a solution to replicate the physiological responses of human organs and organ systems to external stimuli. This innovation not only addresses the need to reduce reliance on animal models but also offers advantages over prolonged and costly animal trials. Organ-on-a-chip technology is more cost-effective, and scalable, and allows for the reproducibility of results in a shorter time frame compared to animal models. Thus, biomimetic microfluidic systems have the potential and should be used as a substitute for animal testing. The advancement of these systems, which mimic the pathological responses of organs, can bring about revolutionary changes in various fields of research, particularly toxicology and pharmaceutical development, where reliance on clinical trials is significant.
Advancements in Organ on Chip Technology
The field of organ-on-a-chip technology has experienced significant growth due to notable progress in the fields of biology and engineering. This includes improvements in physiological relevance, advanced models for various organs such as the liver, lung, kidney, skin, and even the female reproductive system, as well as an expanding range of applications.
Over ten years ago, the Wyss Institute, for example, successfully recreated the essential functional connection between the alveolar and capillary of the human lung. Since then, they have also developed more than 15 miniature devices that mimic the structure and functions of various parts of the human body, such as the intestines, kidneys, skin, bone marrow, and the barrier between the blood and the brain.
The iSTAND pilot program, established by the FDA, aims to facilitate the advancement and verification of innovative technologies such as organ-on-a-chip for drug discovery.
Final Thoughts
Organ on chip technology stands as a promising and efficient alternative to traditional animal testing in modern medicine. With its ability to replicate human organ responses at a fraction of the cost and time, this innovation holds the potential to revolutionize various fields, from toxicology to pharmaceutical development. Embracing this technology not only addresses the drawbacks of animal trials but also paves the way for more ethical and impactful advancements in medical research.
