Scientists at the Queen Mary University of London have created a groundbreaking 3D organ-on-a-chip that closely mimics the structure and function of a human joint. This innovative development has the potential to greatly enhance our understanding of joint diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, and facilitate the discovery and testing of new treatment options.
Arthritic joint diseases are characterized by inflammation of the synovium, a membrane that lines joint cavities and produces a lubricating fluid to prevent wear during movement. While there are treatments available to manage the pain and swelling associated with these conditions, there is currently no cure.
To effectively target the synovium for therapy, researchers require a model that accurately replicates the complex physiology of human joints. The team at Queen Mary University has achieved this by creating a 3D organ-on-a-chip that contains both human synovial cells and blood vessel cells.
The organ-on-a-chip model developed by the researchers is the first of its kind, combining human synovium cells with applied mechanical loading. It successfully reproduces key features of native synovium biology, enabling a more comprehensive understanding of joint diseases.
Prior to creating the organ-on-a-chip model, the researchers conducted a series of 2D cell culture experiments to optimize the culture and experimental conditions. This information was then applied to the development of the organ-on-a-chip model, which includes primary human fibroblast-like synoviocytes (hFLS) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) capable of developing functional vascular networks.
The study found that the hFLS cells exhibited behavior similar to the intima, or lining layer, of native human synovium. Additionally, the cells secreted the major constituents of synovial fluid and responded to inflammation and mechanical stretch testing.
The researchers believe that their findings have the potential to significantly advance our understanding of disease mechanisms and facilitate the discovery of new therapies for arthritic diseases. They suggest that personalized organ-on-a-chip models of synovium and associated tissues could further enhance our ability to develop targeted treatments.
Martin Knight, one of the study’s co-authors, expressed excitement about the potential impact of their research. He believes that their synovium-on-a-chip model, along with other joint models currently in development, has the power to revolutionize preclinical testing and accelerate the delivery of new therapeutics for arthritis patients. The team is eager to share their model with the scientific community and collaborate with industry partners to expedite the availability of new treatments.
Another advantage of the organ-on-a-chip model is that it was developed using a commercially available platform, which does not require specialized knowledge of device design and fabrication. This accessibility makes it suitable for widespread use in research laboratories and pharmaceutical companies.
In summary, the development of this 3D organ-on-a-chip model represents a major breakthrough in the field of arthritis research. By closely replicating the structure and function of a human joint, scientists now have a powerful tool to better understand the pathology of joint diseases and accelerate the discovery of new treatment options for arthritis patients.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
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