A three‐dimensional microfluidized liver system to assess hepatic drug metabolism and hepatotoxicity

Publication date: 15 Dic 2018

JournalSource: OPENALEXOpenAlex type: articleClosed Access
Authors: Brunella Corrado, Vincenza De Gregorio, Giorgia Imparato, Chiara Attanasio, Francesco Urciuolo, Paolo A. Netti

In this study, we propose the design and fabrication of a liver system on a chip. We first chose the most suitable three-dimensional liver-like model between cell spheroids and microtissue precursors, both based on the use of hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) to provide proof-of-concept data. Spheroids displayed high cell density but low expression of the typical hepatic biomarkers, whereas microtissue precursors showed stable viability and function over the entire culture time. The two liver-like models were compared in terms of cell viability, function, metabolism, and the P-glycoprotein 1 (P-gp) transport-protein expression with the microtissue precursors showing the best performance. Thus, we cultured them into a microfluidic biochip featured with three parallel channels shaped to mimic the hepatic sinusoids. To assess the detoxification potential of the microtissue-loaded biochip we challenged it with a model molecule (ethanol) at different concentrations and time points. Ethanol cytotoxicity was detected by a noninvasive measurement of cell viability based on cell autofluorescence. As expected, a dose-dependent decrease of albumin and urea secretion was observed in the ethanol-treated samples. We believe that the described totally human-derived platform, suitable for integration into a multiorgan microfluidic system, can provide a consistent innovative platform for drug development and toxicity studies.

Origin
Biotechnology and Bioengineering
Volume
116
Issue
5
Pages
1152-1163
Cited by
33
Legacy ID
e78f6bb3bf513bd3c3cdc70be898d1c7
Biblio references
Volume: 116 Issue: 5 Pages: 1152-1163