3D printing organs on chips could end laboratory tests on animals. At the same time it will accelerate the search for cures for incurable diseases.
Scientists have developed 3D printing organs on chips that use a spongy material for the repetition of the structure of real tissues in the human body. The new devices allow cells to grow inside the 3D semiconductors, which provides a more similar to the real environment than in a traditional two-dimensional containers Petri dishes. It is revolutionary in its component opening allows in real time to constantly monitor the life of human cells that may contribute to the development of new advanced methods of treatment of incurable diseases, while reducing the number of laboratory animals used for this purpose.
The researchers said that their invention can be applied to generate all kinds of human organs in the laboratory to stimulate the impact of certain treatments on the whole body. Traditionally, biological studies are carried out in Petri dishes containing specific types of cells grown on flat surfaces. Although since 1950-ies, this technique has led to some major scientific discoveries, including the polio vaccine, the two-dimensional nature sometimes leads to incorrect information and the failure of drugs in clinical trials.
In this 3D cell culture allow scientists to identify new therapies, to learn those techniques that should be avoided. The researchers also believe that the structure can be modified to generate other types of organs like liver, heart or brain, or even the whole human body on chips. (READ MORE)