Organ chips have emerged as one of the most promising tools in human biology research, according to Memes Consulting. These miniaturized devices, often resembling computer components more than biological systems, are designed to mimic the functions of human organs such as the liver, lungs, and even the female reproductive system. Scientists aim to use them to model diseases and accelerate drug development. Donald Ingber, director of Harvard University’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, emphasized that the goal is to create a more efficient alternative to animal testing and advance personalized medicine.
One of the most well-known organ chips is the "small lung" developed at the Wyss Institute. This transparent, U-shaped device features two channels: one filled with air and lined with alveolar epithelial cells, and the other with blood and vascular cells. Researchers use vacuum pressure to simulate breathing motion, making the chip highly representative of human lung function. According to Ingber, this innovation highlights the importance of mechanical forces in tissue development and function, beyond just chemical and genetic factors.
The team also created an airway chip, which mimics the structure of the respiratory tract, including cilia that help move mucus. They used these chips to study conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, as well as the effects of smoking on bronchial cells.
Another major breakthrough came from Vanderbilt University, where John Wikswo and his team developed a neurovascular unit (NVU) chip that models the blood-brain barrier. This chip includes human cortical neurons, endothelial cells, astrocytes, and perivascular cells, allowing researchers to study how drugs and inflammatory signals cross the barrier. The team is now working with pharmaceutical companies to test new drugs using this platform.
At the University of Southern California, Megan McCain has been developing heart chips that can hold beating heart cells. By reprogramming patient skin cells into stem cells and then into cardiomyocytes, she creates a microenvironment that closely resembles the human heart. These chips have already been used to model rare genetic heart diseases, offering a powerful tool for studying cardiac function and disease.
Meanwhile, Dan Huh and his team at the University of Pennsylvania created an eye chip with blinking eyelids, simulating real eye conditions like dry eye. The chip contains human corneal and conjunctival cells and helps researchers test new treatments and optimize contact lenses.
Teresa Woodruff and her team at Northwestern University developed EVATAR, a small chip that models the entire female reproductive system, complete with a simulated menstrual cycle. The system includes the fallopian tubes, uterus, ovaries, and liver, connected through a network of tubes and pumps. A male version, ADATAR, is currently under development.
Researchers are also working on interconnected organ chips, such as those developed by MIT’s Linda Griffith and the Wyss Institute. These systems link multiple organ platforms to simulate whole-body physiology, helping scientists understand how different organs interact. Griffith’s team recently connected 10 organ systems in a single system, marking a major step forward in the field.
Companies like Emulate are commercializing these technologies, producing chips for lungs, livers, intestines, and even the brain. Their brain chips, containing neurons and vascular cells, are set to be tested in space to study how microgravity affects the blood-brain barrier and inflammation. As the field continues to evolve, organ chips are proving to be a revolutionary tool in biomedical research.
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