Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have unveiled a groundbreaking tissue engineering platform. Using 3D-printed collagen scaffolds, dubbed CHIPS, they are revolutionizing how tissues are grown and studied. This innovation, announced in April 2025, holds immense potential for disease modeling and drug testing.
The CHIPS platform mimics natural cellular environments, allowing cells to grow, interact, and form functional tissues. This marks a significant leap beyond traditional silicone-based microfluidic models. The designs are freely available, fostering broader scientific innovation.
Daniel Shiwarski, an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh, developed CHIPS. These collagen-based structures integrate with a vascular and perfusion organ-on-a-chip reactor. This creates a complete tissue engineering platform that closely simulates a real cellular environment.
Unlike synthetic microfluidic devices, these scaffolds are built entirely from collagen. Cells can interact with the model, self-organizing into functional tissues. The team demonstrated this by combining collagen with vascular and pancreatic cells, prompting insulin secretion in response to glucose.
The team also demonstrated the ability to create non-planar 3D networks in soft, organic material. They printed helical vascular networks modeled after DNA structure. This allows for more complex and realistic tissue models.
Shiwarski's team aims to use this platform to study vascular diseases such as hypertension and fibrosis. The ultimate goal is to replace animal models with more accurate, human-based systems. This new approach bridges the gap between simplified 2D models and animal studies.