Researchers at India’s National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health in partnership with I.I.T. Bombay have created placenta-on-a-chip devices to enable the study of drug safety during pregnancy.
Led by Professors Abhijit Majumder, and Debjani Paul, along with Dr. Deepak Modi, the placenta-on-a-chip (POC) devices have an environment that simulates the basic organ structure and functions of the placenta. The team used microfluidic technology which can integrate processes to create an environment that represents basic organ structure and functions of the placenta.
While a few placenta-on-chip devices do exist, these do not mimic various stages of pregnancy hence limiting their utility in testing the safety of drugs under these conditions. The placenta in a lab dish developed by the team allows different cells to interact with each other, incorporate mechanical properties and mimic the blood flow, which closely resembles the in-vivo condition.
These devices were fabricated using techniques such as photolithography, soft lithography, and handcrafted designs using biopsy punches. In these devices, Dr. Modi’s team grew different cells similar to those found in the actual placenta.
Multiple devices were developed in this collaboration each dedicated to various studies such as embryo implantation, placental barrier function, placental cell migration, drug testing among others. The devices were rigorously tested in two different labs to find out if they functioned just like a biological placenta did. The devices are now ready to be used in testing different drugs and medicines, for applications in personalized medicine, and in the development of new therapies.
The placenta-on-a-chip will enable early detection of adverse conditions and allows researchers and healthcare professionals to observe, study, and identify potential issues that may arise during pregnancy. A patent application is being prepared for this technique, which will benefit both industry and academia.
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
