Labs on a chip: Meet the stripped down rat

[摘要] Silicon wafers that support cells cultured from vital organs could be the way forward for drug testing and toxicology. By using an animal on a chip the number of animals used for research will be reduced. The chips for example can store up to 100,00 liver cells in trenches and channels . Fluids pumped around the chip replicate fluid movement and absorption in the cell. Proof of conceptstudies have shown the chips's value and the ability to test drugs on human cells rather than rat ones should mean that drugs reaching clinical trials havea better chance of being safe and effective.

[关键词] CELL-CULTURE ANALOG;MIMIC BIOACCUMULATION;TOXICITY;DEVICE