Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026
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Chip-based Three-dimensional Cell Culture in Perfused Micro-bioreactors
Published on: May 21, 2008
11.6K
Creating tissue on chip constructs in microtitre plates for drug discovery.
N P Macdonald1,2, A Menachery3, J Reboud2
1ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES), Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS), School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, University of Tasmania Private Bag 75 Hobart TAS 7001 Australia.
RSC Advances
|May 11, 2022
Summary
A novel dielectrophoresis (DEP) system creates transferable liver-lobule constructs for drug development. This method enhances hepatic cell function and viability, paving the way for advanced organ-on-chip models.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology and Bioengineering
- Cell Biology
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Developing functional liver constructs for research and drug development is crucial.
- Existing methods for hepatic cell patterning have limitations in construct strength and long-term functionality.
- Need for robust, transferable liver models that mimic in vivo architecture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel dielectrophoresis (DEP)-based system for creating transferable hepatic cell constructs.
- To generate liver-lobule mimetic patterns for enhanced cell function and viability.
- To enable long-term functional studies and drug development applications using these constructs.
Main Methods:
- Utilized coplanar dielectrophoresis (DEP) for cell patterning.
- Employed paper-reinforced gel substrates for construct strength and transferability.
- Assessed hepatic cell viability using fluorescent cell staining over 3 days.
- Measured liver-specific functionality (albumin secretion) in patterned versus un-patterned cells.
Main Results:
- Hepatic cells formed DEP field-induced structures mimicking liver lobule patterns.
- Constructs demonstrated sufficient strength for transfer into 96-well plates.
- Significant enhancement in albumin secretion was observed in layered, patterned HepG2/C3A cells compared to controls.
- Maintained hepatic cell viability over a 3-day period.
Conclusions:
- The novel DEP system successfully generates transferable, lobule-mimetic hepatic cell constructs.
- Layer patterning significantly enhances liver-specific functionality and maintains cell viability.
- This 'build and transfer' approach holds promise for organ-on-chip development and drug discovery.
