The vagina, the female sexual organ, is also one of the most wondrous and sensitive structures in human biology. Therefore, it is very susceptible to microbes. probably occur in the vagina bacterial infections It not only endangers women’s sexual health, but also their general health.

He specializes in “developing 3D artificial organs that mimic the complex physical interactions between tissues and cells in the human body using silicon materials”: ​​Harvard bioengineer Dr. Don Ingber… Ingber, who has simulated organs such as lungs, liver, intestines so far. More than 15 “chip organs” developed.

The last artificial organ he developed was a human vagina. And this vagina is as small as a chip:

@Harvard University, Wyss Institute

Receiving real vaginal cells donated by two different female volunteers, Dr. Ingber’s goal was to create a silicon chip that creates bacteria-sensitive channels just like the real vagina, and he succeeded. Bacterial communities have been found to be very important to vaginal health and Key features of the “vaginal microbiome” emulated with a model as small as this chip.

Everything is fine, but what does this chip vagina do?

A tissue-mimicking area in the chip vagina

Each year, an estimated 30% of women are affected by harmful microbes in their vagina. “bacterial vaginosis” They have an infection called Drugs are also being produced to treat this infection, but it is very difficult to find a suitable model to test drugs. There is also a high risk of drug testing on real patients.

Bacterial vaginosis is often treated with antibiotics, but it can recur very often. In addition to sexually transmitted diseases, if left untreated risk of cervical cancer It can cause premature birth and miscarriage.

Here’s Dr. This is where the chip vagina developed by Ingber comes into play, and Dr. Ingber, for the model he developed “behaves just like a human vagina” say. The drugs to be tested are first tested on this chip vagina, so that if it is actually used on a patient in the future, it is clear in advance what the results will be.

Bill Gates’ foundation funded the work to develop the chip vagina:

The Gates Foundation, founded by Bill Gates and his ex-wife Melinda Gates, and run by the couple’s large donations; Address the access issues to toilets in Africa It funds work on common and critical health problems in many parts of the world, from vaccines to next-generation pandemics. This last research was one of the foundation’s successful fundings.