Organ & Tissue Transplant- Policies, Technologies, etc.

Organ on a chip: New setup for lab testing

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Organ as a chip

Mains level: Not Much

organ

Central idea: Organ-on-a-chip technology has emerged as a new laboratory setup that scientists are using instead of animals to test new drugs.

What is Organ-on-a-Chip?

  • Organ-on-a-chip is a microfluidic device that aims to mimic the structure and function of specific human organs or tissues in vitro.
  • It is a small, transparent chip made of biocompatible materials such as silicon, glass, or polymers, and contains tiny channels lined with living cells.
  • The living cells are derived from human tissues and can be cultured to replicate the microenvironment of the specific organ being modelled.

How does Organ-on-a-Chip work?

  • Microfluidic channels simulation: Each organ-on-a-chip contains a complex network of microfluidic channels and chambers that can simulate the mechanical and chemical environment of a specific organ.
  • Mimics the blood flow: The microfluidic channels can mimic the flow of blood and air, while the living cells provide a realistic environment for drug testing and disease modelling.

Potential applications of organ-on-a-chip

  • Organ-on-a-chip technology has numerous potential applications, including drug development, disease modelling, and toxicity testing.
  • By replicating the structure and function of human organs, researchers can study how organs interact with drugs and other compounds.
  • This could lead to the development of more effective and personalized treatments for a variety of diseases.
  • Additionally, organ-on-a-chip technology provides a more ethical and effective approach to testing drugs and other compounds, reducing the reliance on animal testing.

Examples of Organ-on-a-Chip

Several examples of organ-on-a-chip technology have been developed, including-

  • Lung-on-a-chip mimics the air-blood interface in the lungs
  • Heart-on-a-chip mimics the mechanical and electrical properties of the heart
  • Liver-on-a-chip replicates the metabolic activity of the liver
  • Brain-on-a-chip models the blood-brain barrier and neural activity in the brain

Future prospects

  • Organ-on-a-chip technology is a promising and rapidly evolving field that offers numerous advantages over traditional drug development and testing methods.
  • It provides a more ethical and effective approach to testing drugs and other compounds, reducing the reliance on animal testing.
  • Furthermore, it has the potential to revolutionize the field of drug development by enabling more personalized and effective treatments for a variety of diseases.

 

Attempt UPSC 2024 Smash Scholarship Test | FLAT* 100% OFF on UPSC Foundation & Mentorship programs

Get your Rs 10,000 worth of UPSC Strategic Package for FREE | PDFs, Zoom session, Tests, & Mentorship

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Join us across Social Media platforms.

💥Mentorship New Batch Launch
💥Mentorship New Batch Launch