Abstract
Microphysiological systems (MPSs) are expected that new cell-based assay technology instead of animal experiments, because of the technology of simulated body environment using human-derived cells. We have developed a proximal tubule MPS based on microfluidic technologies for assessment of nephrotoxicity in vitro. The MPS was designed to ensure convenient handling for cells observation and medium change, and comprised two chips, four reservoirs, four pumps and a control equipment. In order to evaluate drug-induced nephrotoxicity, renal proximal tubule epithelial cells (RPTECs) were cultured under static and fluidic condition in the MPS. RPTECs cultured under static and fluidic condition in the MPS formed monolayer formation for at least 3 weeks. Exposure to a nephrotoxicant, cisplatin, caused a change in cell morphology of RPTECs. After 24 hours of the exposure, the number of round-shaped cells in static culture was more than that in fluidic culture, while the number of attached RPTECs to a membrane was dramatically reduced under both static and fluidic conditions after 48 hours of exposure. This MPS will be revealed the effect of perfusion on RPTECs and play a useful role for drug discovery research by assessment experiments of culture supernatant after drug exposure.
