Value Proposition:
Technology Description
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have developed a organ on a chip model to test organ interactions, pathological conditions, and therapeutic interventions in a physiologically relevant system. They have created a 3D printed mold containing separate organoid chambers with interconnected microfluidic channels. The microfluidics channel allows for crosstalk and exchange of materials, proteins, hormones, signals, etc. between organs. This model has been applied to many cell types/organoids to measure organ/cell cross talk, interactions, disease modeling, and test new drugs.
Unmet Need
Modeling physiological and pathological conditions is essential to advance science and medicine. Cellular based models are a staple of basic science however many fall short of accurately recapitulating the conditions in human patients. We developed a model that can incorporate multiple cell-based organs into a single chip containing separate chambers for each organ that are interconnected with microfluidic channels. Recent developments in organ on a chip models have brought this technology to the forefront of drug testing. However, these applications are limited because of complicated development and production of the chips. Organ on a chip molds could streamline this process, but microfluidics to connect multiple organs has previously been difficult to incorporate into a mold. Further, this design is more physiologically and pathologically relevant that should improve the translation to human patients.
Stage of Development
Data Availability: Data available at the following publication
Publication
Williams, M. Liver-Heart Microphysiological Organoid Model for the Study and Treatment of Cardiac Amyloidosis. 2022.
