Invention:
This is an organ-to-chip device that is constructed by using thin membranes. The device allows quantitative in vitro modeling of cellular interactions by using ultrasound. The technology also has a large potential for therapeutic applications for treating different diseases. The flexibility of organ-on-chip technologies is a great tool to help speed up drug development processes and could assist in possibilities for personalized medicine. Organ-on-chip technologies will also allow researchers to view the organ’s functionality, behavior, and response on a cellular and molecular level.
Background:
The drug development process has several drawbacks including lengthy timetables, regulations, and it is often highly expensive. Animal testing, which is frequent in the biopharmaceutical industry, does not tend to reflect the complete human physiology and is considered by some to be unethical. Organ-on-chip technology is a solution to these issues by mimicking organ activity on a culture device that is almost the size of a USB drive.
Applications:
- Drug development
- In vitro modeling of cellular interaction
- Disease therapy
Advantages:
- Uses focused ultrasound, which has shown great potential for therapeutic applications
- Has application for treating several diseases
- Can help speed up drug development processes
- Potential for use in personalized medicine
