Extending Human Life One Chip at a Time
COM 172
March 21, 2012
Dr. Yvette Irizarry

Extending Human Life One Chip at a Time
How long would you like to live? It is undeniably that scientists and technology are predestined to mend and prolong people natural lifespan expectancy. This, due to the emergence and advancements of a new technology era with highly specialized medical doctors, along with; biologists and bioengineers, electronics, chemists and chemical engineers, physicists, and mechanical engineers all working together in an orchestrated choreographed process around the globe. Novelties in nanotechnology, sustained living tissue reproduction, bio-hybrid organ devices and microfluidics platforms have evolved from a concept of fantasy to a revolutionized reality.
Available technology has migrated into the medical world, allowing scientists to develop several human organs utilizing microfluidics platform technology. Harvard University has developed a highly refined lung on-a-chip that embodies numerous forms of tissues. “We started with the simplest embodiment of human airway and capillary cells, and then introduced immune cells” (Ingber, 2010, p. 661). The chip consists of micro-channels parted by a malleable micrometer tissue. A single conduit encompasses air sacks lining like human lungs, and the other channel conveys capillaries, and to emulate blood flow, it has liquids flowing. The chip highlights the cells’ behavior and fluctuations when they are stretched. The size of the chip is made of human lung and vessel cells, acts much like a lung in a human body, and it is similar to the size of a pencil eraser. Due to it being transparent, it provides an understanding to how a lung works inside a human body. This mechanism can become a valuable contraption to study the effects of toxins and efficacy of new drugs. “We are inspired by design principles of what makes a lung relevant physiologically.” (Ingber, 2010, p. 663).
Passages simulate how blood flow through ‘the organ cavities.
Several teams around the globe are developing innovative ways to model organs on-a-chip utilizing technology and nano-materials to recreate these organs. “Given the difficulty of recreating a single organ, representing the entire body on a chip sounds impossible, but it was actually one of the first biology-on-a-chip projects to be tackled” (Baker, 2011, p. 663). Michael Shuler and Gregory Braxter teamed up and developed tiny compartments from silicon wafers that clasp gut, liver, and fat cells connected by microfluidic channels. Schuler calls this method a “microscale cell-culture analogue” which predicts how medications travel and amass in organs. Shuler describes the complexity and challenge of modeling the amount of blood flow to the organ. He also highlights how certain devices are able to distribute blood as the mathematical models, but are unable to emulate additional phases, for instance, how blood flows through an organ. “Chips will become more predictive in the next few years as researchers learn to cultivate more authentic cells” (Shuler, 2011, p. 664). Frank Sonntag, developed a device that he calls “a chip-based multi-micro-organoid culture system” (Sonntag, 2010, p. 663) with six duplicate micro-bioreactors, all-encompassing cells designated to simulate the liver, brain and bone marrow to try and predict systemic toxicity. Kiichi Sato, a chemist bio-analyst from the University of Tokyo, developed and produced a chip that will assess in what manner cell lines in lieu of breast cancer, liver and intestine intermingle with medication. In order for these devices to be integrated in a human body, there is a need to create complex cultures. Cell forms necessary for these apparatus are becoming more reachable and further advancements are constantly achieved. How did this technology go from a concept of fantasy to a reality? Even though constant development of human organ on-a-chip continue to evolve, MicroElectroMechanical System (MEMS), microfluidics, nanotechnology, lab-on-a-chip devices, DSPs, implantable genetic chips, and robotics have continued evolving, turning a concept of fantasy into a reality. One hot area of advance development is Bio-hybrid organs (A device that marries biologic units e.g., cells or tissues, to a delivery vehicle to circumvent through immune isolation–immune attack on transplanted non-self-tissues), which conglomerates living cells with polymers and silicon. The designs of these organs are from nonliving resources, while the living cells are developed from corpses, wildlife, or human flesh to accomplish the job of processing bio-chemicals and filtering blood. This enables the apparatuses to improve some health disorders and prolong lives. Recently, researchers revealed a procedure that will permit the creation of an ink-jet-printed human organ, at the University of Missouri at Columbia. The donee’s cells are used to form the printed organ to ensure bio-compatibility with the donor, and then those cells are reproduced in stratums interchanging with structural gels. Another bio-hybrid organ is the Renal Assist Device (RAD); this device has demonstrated to increase the efficacy of a kidney dialysis device. A bio-hybrid liver has been developed and scientists at Charles Stark Draper Laboratories are developing a microfluidic device that will lead to create a liver on-a-chip. Currently, human heart’s that may be failing and may have damaged parts may be repaired with bio-hybrid patches. Research and development is under way to construct “contractile patches” which will replace damage heart tissue and ultimately the goal is to develop entirely implantable hearts. A team of researchers from Columbia University Engineering, created a new way to patch up a damaged heart that allows heart tissue to mend itself. Vunjak-Novakovic (2011) stated “We are very excited about this new technique. This platform is very adaptable and we believe it could be readily extended to the delivery of other types of human stem cells we are interested in to rebuild the heart muscle and further our research of the mechanisms underlying heart repair.” (Columbia Engineers Patch a Heart, para. 3). The list of internal organs being duplicated in miniature form continues to grow, so far there is beating hearts, breathing lungs and livers, and now add the brain. Researchers are trying to discover ways to interface these chips together, moving closer to creating a body on-a-chip. Each organ on-a-chip encloses living animal cells sustained by nutrients; also demonstrating how these cells respond inside the body.
Furthermore, two of the best proven and productive human-organ advances concern artificial eyes for people with impaired vision or else blind and hearing reproduction devices for the hearing impaired or deaf. Indeed, robotic eyes with retinal and cochlea implants devices are available. The approximate cost for a cochlear implant is around $100,000. Medicare and most insurance companies offer assistance for coverage of the cost. Currently, there are several groups that have teamed up and are trying to create an artificial retina. The initial outcomes have displayed great promise and encouragement. Another group is working on a retinal prosthesis that would directly stimulate an eye’s inner retina. This technology helps restore approximately 10° of vision. The initial MEMS implantable automated cochlea device was created in the University of Michigan. The device emits signals for different frequencies to electrodes implanted in the cochlea spiral, and then the auditory nerves transport these signals to the brain. Other MEMS devices have been developed to better monitor, diagnose, and provide early warning more effectively without the need of invasive procedures. Currently in use there is a swallow able camera in form of a pill, known as the M2A Capsule Endoscopy; it provides precise sight of the small intestine utilizing wireless imaging. These devices offer a close comprehensive view of the condition of the intestine and may be able to provide more practical solutions. Doctors can view more than 50,000 still images, after the imageries are captured, the camera belt is removed; the patient simply passes the pill. The cost of this procedure is approximately $1,200; with a 60 percent to 70 percent successful rate identifying anomalies. Some of these implantable technologies were first introduced in 1994, by a company called Affymetrix. With this type of technology scientist have been able to help and better the quality of life of the impaired. Robotic arms enable stroke survivors get back their range of motion. Brain implants permit paralyzed people to control a robotic arm utilizing the brain, and the imbedded apparatus.
Where is all this revolutionary medical technology heading to? As seen, scientists and researchers continue to excel in the development, the emergence, the adaptation and daily advancements in nanotechnology, bio-hybrid organ devices and microfluidics platforms. This technology will continue to grow and new discoveries will reach new heights, breaking through nuances and variables in the replacement of human organs with an organ on-a-chip. From restoring the vision of the blind, the establishment of hearing of the deaf; to identifying cancerous tumors promptly and accurately then having the ability to destroy them before they can cause bigger problems; while prolonging human life as we know it. Scientist and researchers will continue to push the envelope and come together with their endeavors to create the ultimate body on-a-chip. Perhaps, the organ transplant waiting lists will become a thing of the past in the near future. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics (2007) show how the human race can benefit from these medical advances. Now, the question lay’s on you; How long would you like to live?

References:
Baker, M. (2011). A Living System on a Chip. Nature, 471, 661-665. Retrieved from http://Gale PowerSearch database
Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC: URL: http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/pdf/Death_by_Age_2007-a.pdf
Hamzelou, J. (2011, June). Bodies recreated in chip form. NewScientist, 6-7. Retrieved from http://Gale PowerSearch database
Huh, D. et al. Science 328, 1662–1668 (2010)
Imura, Y., Sato, K. & Yoshimura, E. Anal. Chem. 82, 9983–9988 (2010).
Ingber, D.E. Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Rodger, A. (2005, June). Life Savers Come in Many Different Flavors. MEGATRENDS, 83-86. Retrieved from http://Gale PowerSearch Database
Sonntag, F. et al. J. Biotechnol. 148, 70–75 (2010).
Sung, J. H., Kam, C. & Shuler, M. L. Lab Chip 10, 446–455 (2010).
Vunjak-Novakovic, G. Columbia Engineering. (2011). Retrieved from http://engineering.columbia.edu/columbia-engineers-patch-heart