空间生物医学研究中的人体器官芯片研究进展

Progress of Human Organ-on-chip in Space Biomedical Research

目前空间站开展微重力损伤的机制研究以细胞和动物实验为主,这与人体器官的功能结构存在较大差异。器官芯片作为一种可以在体外模拟人体器官功能与结构的新技术,可有效弥补细胞和动物实验的不足。综述美国空间芯片计划,涵盖从2017年至2018年项目征集期间入选的9个器官芯片种类、结构及与地面疾病的相关性;介绍已实现在轨实验的心脏芯片、肌肉芯片、肾脏芯片、肠道芯片等器官芯片,着重介绍微重力环境下器官芯片研究进展及国内开发的预期可应用于空间环境的肝脏芯片。最后对芯片在轨实验需要解决的技术挑战和发展前景进行了展望。

The studies on injury mechanisms induced by microgravity on the space station are commonly based on cultured cells and animals nowadays.However,these models are significantly different from the functional structures of the human organs.A novel technology called organ-on-chip can simulate the physical and chemical function of human organs in vitro and can overcome the defects of cell and animal models.In this paper,the current progress of NASA-NIH Tissue Chips in Space project was reviewed.The characters,structures,and functions of 9 different types of organ-on-chip sent to the international space station from 2017 to 2018 were introduce including the heart chip,the muscle chip,the kidney chip,the intestinal chip,and the lung chip,etc.The latest research progress of organ-on-chip experiments in the microgravity environment was highlighted.Furthermore,the current progress of Lab-on-Chip researches in the China space program was introduced.Finally,some prospects and challenges of the development of organ-on-chip for on-orbit missions were put forward.