Innovation That Matters

3D-printed micro-organs could replace animal lab tests

Education

Developed by a Harvard research team, organs-on-chips allow scientists to customize tests and study a variety of tissues at once.

UNLOCK THIS INNOVATION AND MUCH MORE…

Become a member today and get early access to the ideas transforming our world from just £39 per month*

Exclusive member benefits:

  • Access to over 13,000 innovations
  • Monthly horizon scanning reports
  • Exclusive feature articles

Already a member? Sign in here

As 3D printing materials improve, microphysiological systems (MPS) are becoming increasingly useful for scientists. A team from Harvard’s John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) recently 3D printed a new material with integrated micro sensors. Dubbed an organ-on-a-chip, the microscopic cardiac tissue mimics the activity of the human heart.

The new printing process uses six inks, each containing a sensor. Each microchip holds multiple micro-organs, allowing scientists to more efficiently study a wide variety of changes in tissue and cellular activity. As the time required to print each organ and collect study data decreases, scientists will be able to more swiftly model disease progression and the effects of drug use. And once there is widespread use of MPS in medical research, animal testing could be phased out.

As well as discovering the causes of ill health, miniaturization supports good health through a number of wearables. Diabetics can monitor their blood sugar level non-invasively, and a battery-free microchip measures the salinity of sweat to help predict potential illness. With many aspects of health able to be monitored by individuals, how could researchers amalgamate some of that data for large-scale study?

Website: www.seas.harvard.edu

Contact: twitter.com/hseas

Download PDF

Springwise Services:
Our expertise in spotting the latest innovations is the best resource to empower your team’s future planning.

Find out More