Miniaturized Human Heart On A Chip Offers Promise For Safer Cancer Treatments
NDTV
Groundbreaking technology addresses a critical concern in cancer therapy. Many effective cancer drugs carry the potential side effect of heart damage.
In a promising development for medical research, a new "heart-on-a-chip" model has been unveiled by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles. This miniature, laboratory-grown heart holds the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment safety.
The primary purpose of the chip is to assess the cardiac risks associated with cancer therapies. Certain treatments, while effectively targeting cancer cells, can inadvertently harm the heart. This heart-on-a-chip model offers a controlled and ethical environment to test these drugs, ensuring patient well-being is prioritized.
Several significant advancements distinguish this model from its predecessors. Firstly, the team employed mature heart cells derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). This enhanced cell maturity translates to a more accurate representation of human heart function. Furthermore, the chip boasts an impressive beating rate of approximately 60 beats per minute, mirroring the natural human rhythm.
