When will we have a human on a chip? đ
"Researchers ... have developed a “placenta-on-a-chip” that closely mimics the molecular exchange of nutrients between mother and foetus during pregnancy. ... created the device using a pair of microfluidic channels, separated by an intricate network of hydrated fibres cultured on each side with different placental cells. The setup enabled the team to recreate disruptions to nutrient exchange caused by placental malaria, and could be a key step towards developing a treatment for the disease. ..."
From the abstract:
"... In this work, a placenta-on-a-chip model is developed to mimic the nutrient exchange between the fetus and mother under the influence of PM [placenta malaria]. In this model, trophoblasts cells (facing infected or uninfected blood simulating maternal blood and termed “trophoblast side”) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (facing uninfected blood simulating fetal blood and termed “endothelial” side) are cultured on the opposite sides of an extracellular matrix gel in a compartmental microfluidic system, forming a physiological barrier between the co-flow tubular structure to mimic a simplified maternal–fetal interface in placental villi. The influences of infected erythrocytes (IEs) sequestration through cytoadhesion to chondroitin sulfate A (CSA) expressed on the surface of trophoblast cells, a critical feature of PM, on glucose transfer efficiency across the placental barrier was studied. ... The results demonstrated that CSA-binding IEs added resistance to the simulated placental barrier for glucose perfusion and decreased the glucose transfer across this barrier. The results of this study can be used for better understanding of PM pathology and development of models useful in studying potential treatment of PM."
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