Astronaut-on-a-chip: Multi-organ tissue chips simulate space radiations impact on human health

As astronauts venture further into space, their exposure to harmful radiation rises. Researchers from Columbia University are simulating the effects of space radiation here on Earth to determine its impact on human physiology using multi-organ tissue chips.

Their work documents the differential effects seen in tissues after acute and prolonged radiation exposure and identifies multiple genes of interest that could help inform the development of future radioprotective agents.

During space travel, astronauts are continuously bombarded with galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), which are composed of fast-moving atoms traveling at nearly the speed of light.

GCRs are much more damaging than either gamma rays or X-rays due to the heavy ions that can interact with spacecrafts and release high-energy secondary particles, which can damage astronauts' DNA in tissues throughout the body. Exposure to GCRs is predicted to increase the risks of developing acute radiation syndrome and may have other health consequences, including cancer and heart disease.

Current models to study GCR damage come with significant caveats. Cue the multi-organ-on-a-chip (multi-OOC), a more accurate representation of individual human physiology. Already developed at Columbia University, this plug-and-play system allows for patient-specific tissue models of different organs to be interconnected by vascular flow, as they are in the human body.

This system allows for each tissue type to be grown in its optimal environment while also supporting the vital communication and migration of immune cells between organs.

Zdroj obrázku: Naveed Tavakol & Kacey Ronaldson-Bouchard.