Researchers from IIT Bombay, in collaboration with the ICMR National Institute for Research on Women’s Health (ICMR NIRWoH), have developed an indigenous Placenta on Chip platform that replicates the key functions of the human placenta in a laboratory setting. The innovation represents a major advancement in pregnancy research and could significantly improve the safety of medications used during pregnancy while reducing dependence on animal testing.
The platform provides scientists with a reliable and human relevant model to study the complex interaction between a mother and her developing baby, opening new possibilities for maternal and fetal healthcare.
What Is a Placenta on Chip?
The placenta is a temporary organ that plays a vital role during pregnancy by supplying oxygen and nutrients to the fetus, removing waste products, producing essential hormones, and acting as a protective barrier against harmful substances.
The newly developed Placenta on Chip recreates these biological functions using human placental and blood vessel cells grown on opposite sides of a porous membrane. This miniature laboratory model closely mimics the maternal fetal interface, allowing researchers to observe how nutrients, hormones, medicines, and other molecules move between mother and baby.
Why This Innovation Matters
Studying the human placenta during pregnancy is extremely challenging because of ethical and practical limitations. As a result, researchers have traditionally relied on animal models, which often fail to accurately reflect human pregnancy.
The new platform offers a safer and more accurate alternative by reproducing several essential placental functions, including:
- Nutrient transport
- Waste removal
- Hormone production
- Selective barrier function
This enables researchers to study pregnancy more effectively while generating results that are more relevant to human health.
Improving Drug Safety During Pregnancy
One of the most promising applications of the Placenta on Chip technology is evaluating the safety of medications during pregnancy.
Many drugs cannot be adequately tested in pregnant women because of ethical concerns, leaving physicians with limited evidence when prescribing treatments. The new platform allows scientists to examine whether medicines cross the placental barrier and how they may affect fetal development.
This could help identify safer medications for pregnant women while supporting the development of more effective treatment guidelines.
Advancing Research on Pregnancy Disorders
Beyond drug testing, the platform provides valuable insights into pregnancy related complications.
Researchers have already demonstrated its ability to simulate conditions resembling gestational diabetes, allowing them to observe changes in placental function under high glucose levels. The technology also has the potential to improve research on conditions such as:
- Preeclampsia
- Fetal growth restriction
- Placental dysfunction
A better understanding of these disorders could lead to earlier diagnosis and more targeted therapies for expectant mothers.
Simpler Design With Wider Applications
Unlike many existing organ on chip systems that require sophisticated laboratory equipment and continuous microfluidic pumps, the IIT Bombay platform has been designed to work with standard laboratory infrastructure.
Its simpler and scalable design makes the technology more accessible to research institutions across India, enabling wider adoption and encouraging collaborative scientific research.
Reducing Dependence on Animal Testing
The new platform also supports global efforts to reduce animal experimentation in biomedical research.
Because it closely mimics human placental biology, researchers can perform more reliable laboratory studies without relying extensively on animal models. This approach improves scientific accuracy while promoting more ethical research practices.
Strengthening India’s Biomedical Innovation
The development of the Placenta on Chip highlights India’s growing capabilities in biomedical engineering, reproductive health research, and translational medicine.
The project brings together expertise in reproductive biology, microengineering, cell biology, and clinical research, demonstrating how interdisciplinary collaboration can address complex healthcare challenges. It also strengthens India’s position in developing innovative healthcare technologies with global relevance.
Looking Ahead
Scientists believe that advanced human cell based platforms such as the Placenta on Chip will play an increasingly important role in maternal and fetal medicine.
Future applications may include personalized medicine, improved pregnancy risk assessment, safer drug development, and a deeper understanding of placental diseases. As research continues, the technology could contribute to healthier pregnancies and better outcomes for both mothers and babies.
