3D organ chip monitors cell activity in real time October 30, 2018 Source: Science and Technology Daily Author: Liu Xia The University of Cambridge website recently announced that the school's researchers have developed a three-dimensional (3D) organ chip that can monitor cell activity in real time and is expected to be used to develop new therapies while reducing the number of experimental animals used in the study. The new device is based on a conductive polymer sponge "bracket" that the researchers assembled into a three-dimensional electrochemical transistor. The cells grow in the scaffold and then the entire device is placed in a plastic tube, and the nutrients required for the cells can flow through the plastic tube. The use of soft sponge electrodes instead of traditional metal electrodes provides a more natural environment for cells and is the key to successful prediction of organ response to different stimuli. The researchers say they can use the device to study cells and tissues in new ways. Biological studies are still being carried out in culture dishes in which certain types of cells grow on a flat surface. Although many medical advances have been made with this method since the 1950s, these two-dimensional environments do not accurately display the native three-dimensional environment of human cells, and may actually lead to erroneous information. Dr. Royce Owens, the latest research author and the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge, said: "We now need three-dimensional cell models to develop next-generation therapies. Three-dimensional cell culture can help us find new therapies and know that we should avoid them. Which treatments." Researchers say that other organ chip devices need to be completely disassembled to monitor cell function, but the new design allows for real-time continuous monitoring, so long-term experiments can be performed on the effects of different diseases and their potential therapies. With this system, they can monitor tissue growth and its response to external drugs or toxins. In addition, tissue can be induced to develop specific diseases for the study of key mechanisms associated with the disease or to find the right therapy. Moreover, the new device can be modified to become a variety of types of organ chips, such as liver chips, heart chips, etc., and finally get a "body chip" that can simulate the effects of various treatments on the entire body. Researchers plan to use their devices to develop intestinal microarrays and attach them to brain chips to study the relationship between gut microbiota and brain function. Currently, they have applied for a patent for the device in France. The findings are published in the latest issue of Science Progress. NINGBO MEDICAL EQUIPMENT CO.,LTD , https://www.techartmeds.com