miniPUMP heart-on-a-chip pumps liquid using real human heart cells

When conducting cardiac research, it would be ideal if experiments could be performed on actual living human hearts. Scientists have developed what may be the next-best thing, in the form of a tiny mechanical heart powered by real cardiac cells.Continu… Continue reading miniPUMP heart-on-a-chip pumps liquid using real human heart cells

Immune-system-on-a-chip could speed up future vaccine development

The immune system is incredibly complex, but a new breakthrough could help scientists unravel more of its secrets. Researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute have created a more accurate model of the human immune system in a microfluidic chip, providing a… Continue reading Immune-system-on-a-chip could speed up future vaccine development

Cornea-on-a-chip simulates blinking of the eye

While scientists have successfully produced various “organ-on-a-chip” models of body parts, the eye is particularly challenging, as a tear film is regularly moved across its surface as we blink. That action has recently been replicated, in a new device… Continue reading Cornea-on-a-chip simulates blinking of the eye

New lab-on-a-chip device detects spread of disease using sound waves

One physiological consequence of cancer and other diseases spreading throughout the body can be the hardening of the structure surrounding cells called the extracellular matrix. Scientists at Purdue University have now developed a new way to detect suc… Continue reading New lab-on-a-chip device detects spread of disease using sound waves

Eye-on-a-chip drug-testing device blinks like the real thing

Despite the fact that dry eye disease (DED) is a relatively common condition, there are relatively few drugs approved for its treatment. This is because the testing of such medications on actual human eyes would be quite risky. With that in m… Continue reading Eye-on-a-chip drug-testing device blinks like the real thing