Open-Source System for Real-Time Functional Assessment of In Vitro Filtration Barriers

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Physiology
• Drug Discovery

Background:

• The blood-filtration barrier's integrity is crucial for homeostasis; its disruption is linked to various diseases.
• Microphysiological systems (MPS) with cellular components can model biological filtration barriers like the kidney's glomerular filtration barrier.
• MPS are valuable tools for studying cellular filtration, drug effects, and interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an affordable, open-source platform for real-time monitoring of functional filtration status in engineered MPS.
• To enable continuous operational monitoring of filtration in MPS applications.
• To facilitate precision medicine applications, including drug nephrotoxicity evaluation and drug discovery.

Main Methods:

• Utilized readily available components to create a real-time monitoring assay.
• Developed a system capable of linearly detecting FITC-labeled inulin and Texas Red-labeled human-serum albumin concentrations.
• Demonstrated the platform's ability to automatically and consistently determine target molecule concentrations.

Main Results:

• The assay linearly detects target molecules within clinically relevant ranges.
• The platform enables real-time tracking of size-dependent diffusion with minimal fluid loss in acellular contexts.
• The system allows for continuous monitoring without manual media extraction.

Conclusions:

• The developed platform offers an affordable and integratable solution for real-time filtration monitoring in MPS.
• This technology supports continuous operational monitoring, crucial for evaluating filtration status.
• The platform is well-suited for precision medicine, aiding in drug nephrotoxicity assessment and broader drug discovery efforts.