You may love your computer or your phone, but can a bunch of circuits and wires really love you back? Well, probably not—but Harvard University researchers have used 3D printing to produce a heart on a computer chip.
The organs printed on chips, also known as microphysiological systems, can simulate the structure and function of native tissues, carrying the potential to be alternatives to animal testing. The printed hearts can be printed and customized so researchers can collect data for short- and long-term studies.
"We are pushing the boundaries of 3D printing by developing and integrating multiple functional materials within printed devices," Jennifer Lewis, Hansjorg Wyss Professor of Biologically Inspired Engineering and coauthor of the study, said in a news release. "This study is a powerful demonstration of how our platform can be used to create fully functional, instrumented chips for drug screening and disease modeling."
For more on the study, published in the journal Nature Materials, click the link below:
Nicholas joined TriMed in 2016 as the managing editor of the Chicago office. After receiving his master’s from Roosevelt University, he worked in various writing/editing roles for magazines ranging in topic from billiards to metallurgy. Currently on Chicago’s north side, Nicholas keeps busy by running, reading and talking to his two cats.