Organ-on-a-Chip for Virus Detection and Drug Development

Abstract

<p>One of the most common human diseases worldwide is respiratory tract infections caused by viruses or bacteria. The most recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus has posed great threats to global public health. With the development of modern technologies like micro-array based technologies we can improve the way that we identify these viral infections. Usually antibiotic studies take years to complete and many animal lives are taken. To better understand these diseases and to screen potentially affective drugs; appropriate organ models need to be developed. The organ-on-a-chip is a microfluidic device lined with living cells for virus detection and drug development. With this technology we can reduce the cost and time of these studies. This review summarizes current methods used to detect respiratory infections and introduces the fabrication steps used to create an organ-on-a-chip.</p>