Lung-on-a-Chip Replicates the Tiny Explosions Inside Diseased Lungs

November 13, 2007

The channels on the surface of the University of Michigan’s microfluidics device allow scientists to carefully regulate the flow of liquids to the cells that are cultured on it. Scientists have modeled the lungs’ tiniest airways on a microchip device a little larger than a quarter, providing new insight into lung diseases like pneumonia and cystic fibrosis. By scientifically reproducing the real crackling sound diseased lungs make when clogged with fluid, the lung-on-a-chip showed that the crackles aren’t just a symptom of trouble, they’re also a cause. (Wired)