An innovative technology recreates organs and tissues on a tiny chip.
This technology holds great promise to revolutionize biomedical research and provide an alternative to traditional animal testing. However, the research on this technology is still in its infancy. Here, we explore the possibilities for using OOC technology for testing purposes, where the technological development in the field is headed, and the limitations holding up progress.OOC technology integrates microtechnology, biology, and engineering principles to create functional tissue models. These chips are typically made of transparent materials and consist of microfluidic channels lined with living cells.
By providing a three-dimensional environment that mimics the native tissue and organ action, OOC technology allows cells to interact and communicate much in the same way that they do in actual organ systems. OOC technology allows researchers to mimic the complex three-dimensional structures and micro-environments of human organs which is often physiologically more relevant than the two-dimensional environment of cell cultures.Three-dimensional cell culture techniques include scaffolding and bioprinting. These have already been used for drug discovery and have replaced some animal testing. However, they also have limitations, such as the presence of unwanted human-derived hormonal components.