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Author Spotlight: Advancing the Use of Tissue Chip Technology for Studying Human Tissues
Published on: January 12, 2024
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Small tissue chips with big opportunities for space medicine
Xuan Mu1, Weishen He2, Victoria Abril Manjarrez Rivera2
1Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA; Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Iowa, IA 52242, USA.
Life Sciences in Space Research
|November 6, 2022
Summary
Tissue chips offer a novel approach to studying spaceflight's health effects. These advanced models provide crucial insights into microgravity and radiation impacts for astronaut health and future space missions.
Area of Science:
- Space Medicine
- Bioengineering
- In Vitro Models
Background:
- Spaceflight, including microgravity and radiation, poses significant risks to astronaut health and performance.
- Traditional research methods have limitations in fully understanding these complex biological effects.
- Tissue chips represent a promising new technology for space medicine research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the technical advantages of tissue chips for space research.
- To discuss the physiological recapitulations achievable with tissue chips.
- To highlight the growing role of tissue chips in space medicine.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on tissue chip technology.
- Analysis of on-chip physiological capabilities.
- Examination of current and planned space-based tissue chip experiments.
Main Results:
- Tissue chips offer a small footprint, automation potential, and accurate tissue physiology.
- Several tissue chips have already been successfully deployed in space.
- Multi-agency collaborations are expanding the use of tissue chips in orbit.
Conclusions:
- Tissue chips are valuable tools for investigating spaceflight's biological impacts.
- Their unique features enhance molecular and cellular insights into space medicine.
- Tissue chips are becoming increasingly integral to space exploration research.
