Insights into the development of metastases with miniature laboratories

These microphysiological systems, comparable to the size of a box of tablets, integrate several layers of plastic film that are structured using laser technology. This structure forms channels, chambers, pumps and valves that make it possible to simulate human organ functions and disease processes.

By using this technology, up to ten tumor tissue sections can be cultivated in parallel on one chip. It is possible to take samples for examination at any time and to continuously measure important parameters such as CO2 content, pH value and oxygen concentration.

The knowledge gained from this technology is crucial for understanding metastasis and could lead to more effective treatments in the long term. Prof. Armin Braun, Head of Preclinical Pharmacology and Toxicology at Fraunhofer ITEM, emphasizes: "This brings us very close to the real system, much closer than would be possible with animal models."

In addition to cancer research, the systems are also used to research other diseases such as fibrosis. The flexibility of the technology makes it possible to address different scientific questions by combining different components in a modular way.

The researchers are working on making the environmental conditions within the systems even more effective and enabling different oxygen concentrations on a chip in order to observe the reaction of tumor cells and metastases to them. This is an ongoing challenge.

MEDICA-tradefair.com; Source: Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS