Intervertebral disc-on-a-chip: a novel and cost-effective model for spinal disc tissue engineering
Opportunity
An innovative, physiologically and clinically relevant, time and cost-effective technology that provides an accurate 3D controlled environment to generate clinically relevant hypotheses and proof-of-concept for spinal intervertebral disc [IVD] regeneration research and low back pain studies.
Background
IVD degeneration causing low back pain [LBP] is the leading cause of disability affecting more than 850 million across the globe. Despite intense research, there is no current effective clinical strategy to regenerate IVD and cure LBP. Relevant research using animal models are extremely expensive and do not fully recapitulate the complex biology and function of the native IVD. There is therefore a need to develop a novel strategy to develop effective clinical protocols for LBP treatment.
Our Solution
Researchers at UTS have developed the world’s first physiologically and clinically relevant IVD-on-a-chip technology that mimics the function and biology of the IVD, producing a more realistic platform for a range of IVD studies.
Potential Applications
- Research & Development
- Drug & biomolecules screening
- Regulation development [FDA, TGA]
- Generating IVD health and diseased models
IP Status
Australian provisional patent AU2023901155
Inventors
Dr Javad Tavakoli
Figure A:
Disc-on-a-chip technology, hosts IVD cells in physiologically relevant microenvironments similar to the native IVD.
Contact us
If you are interested in working with our researchers to develop any of our technologies, please contact the UTS Commercialisation Team at patents@uts.edu.au.
