This 3D-printed 'body-on-chip' can save animals from drug tests
The plastic device, dubbed as 'body-on-chip' created using a 3D printer mimcs effect of medicines on a human body and has all the potential to save animals from drug testing. Read More
[3D Printer Image for Representation.]
London: A team of scientists at the University of Edinburgh, UK has developed a ground-breaking 3D-printed "body-on-chip" that mimics the effect of medicines on a human body, according to media report Thursday December 28, 2023.
Thousands of animals are used in the early stages of developing medicines worldwide every year, yet many drugs tested on animals do not end up showing any clinical benefit.
The plastic device created using a 3D printer has all the potential to save animals from drug testing.
According to The Guardian, the 3D printed chip has five compartments replicating the human heart, lungs, kidney, liver and brain. These replicas are connected by channels that mimic the human circulatory system, through which new drugs can be pumped.
PET scanning
The device uses Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanning to produce detailed 3D images showing what is going on inside the tiny organs. It involves injecting tiny amounts of radioactive compounds into the chip to transmit signals to an extremely sensitive camera, allowing scientists to better assess the effect of new drugs.
This can help scientists test drugs to see how different organs react without the need for live animal testing, the report said.
"PET imagery ensures that the flow of new drugs being tested is even," the London based daily quoted Liam Carr, the inventor of the device, as saying.
"This device is the first to be designed specifically for measuring drug distribution, with an even flow paired with organ compartments that are large enough to sample drug uptake for mathematical modelling. Essentially, allowing us to see where a new drug goes in the body and how long it stays there, without having to use a human or animal to test it," Liam Carr said.
Also Read | NASA to deploy 3D printers to build homes on Moon
The platform, developed through a National Centre for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) and Unilever co-funded PhD studentship award, is completely flexible and can be a valuable tool to investigate various human diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and immune diseases.
“We’re delighted to be supporting Liam and the CVS team in the development of this ‘body-on-chip’, and we look forward to seeing the impact this novel device has on the testing and progression of new compounds and drugs in the future", Dr Susan Bodie, of Edinburgh Innovations, the university’s commercialisation unit, said.
Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.
For all the latest News, Opinions and Views, download ummid.com App.
Post Comments