The human heart on a chip to study drug toxicity. The result is published in the journal Lab on a Chip, of the Royal Society of Chemistry, by researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
By simulating blood flow and the mechanical movements of the heart in response to drug administration, this platform allows us to predict their toxicity, which can lead to arrhythmias or even the death of cardiac muscle cells. The effects can also be monitored in the long term, as the heart-on-a-chip remains functional for several weeks.