Scientists are using ultrashort laser pulses to make tiny blood vessels inside special gel materials called hydrogels.
Building Micro Blood Vessels with Laser Tech: The Future of Organ-on-Chip
Organ-on-Chip (OoC) technology is a new and exciting way to study how our human body works using tiny devices called microfluidic chips. These chips recreate specific parts of our organs by mimicking real-life tissue environments. By combining knowledge from tissue engineering and microfluidics, researchers can grow small but complex versions of blood vessels and tissues. This helps scientists test medicines and understand diseases without using live animals or patients directly.
Miniature Organs, Major Breakthroughs
Imagine creating tiny, functional versions of human organs on a microchip. That’s the promise of Organ-on-a-Chip (OoC) technology, a revolutionary field merging tissue engineering and microfluidics. OoC technology allows scientists to study how human organs work and respond to drugs and diseases in a more accurate way than traditional methods. This technology has the potential to drastically change how we approach biomedical research and drug development.
Building Tiny Blood Vessels
One of the biggest challenges in creating realistic OoCs is replicating the complex network of blood vessels found in our bodies. These tiny vessels are crucial for delivering oxygen and nutrients to cells. Scientists are using innovative techniques, such as 3D bioprinting and laser ablation, to precisely create these micro-vessels within the OoC. These methods offer more control over the size, shape, and placement of the vessels, leading to more accurate models of human organs.
Laser Precision: A New Tool for OoC
Recently, scientists have started using femtosecond lasers to create intricate microvascular networks within the OoC. These lasers can precisely cut channels into the hydrogel matrix, creating templates for blood vessels. The high precision of these lasers allows for the creation of channels smaller than 100 μm in diameter, closer to the size of real blood vessels. Importantly, this technology is compatible with many different biomaterials, making it extremely versatile.
This new method is not only precise; it’s also incredibly efficient. The researchers can pattern 30 channels in just 10 minutes—a significant improvement over existing techniques. Therefore, this scalability is vital for transitioning this technology from the lab to industrial applications. Thus, enabling wider adoption in biomedical research.
Testing and Improving OoC Models
After creating these intricate micro-vessels, researchers then test the functionality of their OoC models. They introduce endothelial cells (cells that line blood vessels) into the channels and observe how they form connections and create a functional barrier. By exposing these OoCs to various stimuli, scientists can learn more about the physiological and inflammatory responses of tissues in vitro. This is a critical step in ensuring the OoC accurately mirrors the behavior of a living organ.
Liver Lobules on a Chip
The team’s success extends to creating fully functional liver lobules on a chip. This achievement, made in collaboration with Keio University in Japan, is a monumental leap forward in organ-on-a-chip technology. The successful vascularization of liver tissues on a chip enables a better understanding of how the liver responds to various stimuli and could accelerate drug discovery for liver-related diseases.
The Future of Biomedical Research
Organ-on-a-Chip technology is still in its early stages, but its potential is immense. OoC technology has the potential to reduce our reliance on animal testing, provide more accurate drug development tools, and lead to more personalized medicine. Further research and refinement of OoC technology are crucial steps toward revolutionizing biomedical research and healthcare. As this technology advances, we can anticipate even more groundbreaking discoveries and applications impacting the future of medicine.
Reference
- Salvadori, A., Watanabe, M., Markovic, M., Sudo, R., & Ovsianikov, A. (2025). Controlled microvasculature for organ-on-a-chip applications produced by high-definition laser patterning. Biofabrication. https://doi.org/10.1088/1758-5090/add37e
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Neha Adikane holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from Pune University, bringing a unique blend of scientific expertise and creative writing skills to her craft. She specializes in creating engaging, insightful, and impactful content across various niches. With a passion for translating complex ideas into simple, relatable narratives, she excels at crafting blogs, articles, website content, and social media posts that captivate readers and drive engagement. Neha’s background in environmental science adds depth to her writing, allowing her to effectively cover topics related to sustainability, eco-awareness, and scientific innovations.