Organs-on-a-Chip

Medical companies and scientists have always struggled with methods for testing drugs, observing pathological substances, and other various medical procedures. The methods used currently all have their drawbacks, such as animal testing effects that may differ in human beings, etc. However, recent developers have developed new methods called organs-on-a-chip, which mimic organ systems. These chips contain cells and pathways that mimic actual systems in humans. For example, Harvard University has developed a chip that mimics a lung, which even has immune responses. Japanese researchers also developed a chip that simultaneously tests how breast, intestine, and liver cells react to cancer cells. Another company is attempting to view the complete life cycle of hepatitis c, the life cycle of which is difficult to view in cell cultures. Different organizations and companies have come out with different systems, and hope to advance the process even further. However, one of the key issues is that they may not closely enough mimic actual humans, and could potentially leave out important reactions.

I found this article to be incredibly interesting as it combines modern technology with humans, for an almost cyborg on a stick potential. The uses for both cures and pathological observance are astounding.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=organs-on-a-chip