Scientists at the Wyss Institute and Harvard University have created a microchip that mimics human organs.
The Organs-On-Chips could one day replace animal testing because they are designed to mimic the architecture and functions of human organs such as the heart, lungs, and intestines. These chips could be a viable alternative to animal testing which is many times unable to accurately predict how drugs interact with human tissues.
“This is a big win towards achieving our Institute’s mission of transforming medicine and the environment by developing breakthrough technologies and facilitating their translation from the benchtop to the marketplace,” said Wyss Institute Founding Director Don Ingber, M.D., Ph.D., and leader of the Wyss Institute’s Organs-on-Chips team.
THE MICROCHIP COULD END ANIMAL TESTING
Each organ-on-chip is a clear polymer stick which contains hollow micro-channels which are lined with human cells. The scientists at the Wyss Institute plan to link 10 different organs-on-chips together in order to mimic a human organ system. The mini system would provide insights into drug efficacy and safety that has never been possible before.
THE FUTURE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
According to the Wyss Institute, the chip has many future applications. Besides being a viable alternative to animal testing for pharmaceutical effectiveness, the chip could test the safety of cosmetics, test the toxicity of chemicals, be used to develop vaccines, and be used to combat bio-terrorism threats.
SCIENTISTS WIN A PRESTIGIOUS DESIGN AWARD
The development of the chip was a collaborative effort between Wyss Institute, government entities such as the FDA and NIH, and industrial partnerships. The scientists wanted to collaborate early with corporations that could quickly bring the chip to the marketplace.
London’s Design Museum was so impressed with the invention that they have given the Wyss Institute’s chip the Design of the Year 2015 award.
“This is the epitome of design innovation – elegantly beautiful form, arresting concept and pioneering application,” said Paola Antonelli, design curator at New York’s Museum of Modern Art, who nominated the organs-on-chips for the Design of the Year award.
“The team of scientists that produced this remarkable object don’t come from a conventional design background. But what they have done is clearly a brilliant piece of design,” Deyan Sudjic, director of the London Design Museum.
Image credit: Wyss Institute/Harvard University
