“Lung-on-a-chip” Mimics Human Immune Response, Offering Breakthrough in Disease Modeling
ATLANTA, GA – Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a “lung-on-a-chip” platform that replicates the human lung’s immune response, offering a more accurate and ethically sound option to traditional animal models for studying lung diseases. The innovation, recently published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, allows scientists to observe how the lung defends itself against threats – including inflammation and infection – in a controlled, human-relevant environment.
Until now, lung disease research has heavily relied on animal models, which often fail to fully capture the complexities of human physiology. This new platform addresses that limitation, possibly accelerating the advancement of more effective therapies for conditions like asthma, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, and tuberculosis. The technology also aligns with the FDA’s push to reduce animal testing and prioritize predictive models directly applicable to patient care.
The chip recreates key aspects of the lung’s structure and function, and crucially, incorporates a functioning immune system. Researchers observed that when the chip was exposed to irritants, the expected immune response occurred, demonstrating its ability to mimic real-world biological processes.
“This platform makes a more accurate, people-oriented alternative possible,” researchers stated.
Looking ahead, the team is working to connect the lung-on-a-chip with models of other immune organs to gain a more comprehensive understanding of lung-immune system interactions.Long-term,the technology coudl pave the way for personalized medicine,with chips built using a patient’s own cells to predict individual treatment responses.
This development builds on previous work, including a “breathing apparatus-on-a-chip” developed by American researchers last year, which allowed for real-time study of lung damage caused by mechanical ventilation at a cellular level. both technologies represent a notable step towards a future of predictive, precision care and reduced reliance on animal testing.
