Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 29, 2026
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Models and Methods to Evaluate Transport of Drug Delivery Systems Across Cellular Barriers
Published on: October 17, 2013
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Integrated Experimental-Computational Framework for Drug Transport Quantification in 3D Microtissues™.
Ramisa Fariha1, Jad Hamze2, Oluwanifemi David Okoh1
1Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Brown University, 182 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
Micromachines
|March 28, 2026
Summary
This study presents a new method for measuring drug absorption in 3D cancer models. The validated workflow accurately quantifies drug levels, aiding precision medicine and therapeutic optimization.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Biotechnology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Traditional 2D cell cultures lack the complexity of in vivo tumor microenvironments.
- 3D tissue culture systems, like Microtissues™, offer a more physiologically relevant alternative for drug screening.
- Analyzing drug concentrations in 3D constructs presents significant analytical challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate an analytical method for quantifying drug absorption in 3D tissue models.
- To establish a microscale tissue-engineered system for studying drug absorption and transport dynamics.
- To enable in vitro-to-in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) for improved therapeutic strategies.
Main Methods:
- Utilized scaffold-free, high-throughput 3D Microtissues™ platform.
- Developed an integrated workflow combining liquid-liquid extraction and protein precipitation.
- Employed LC-MS/MS analysis for sensitive and accurate drug quantification.
Main Results:
- Achieved a validated lower limit of quantification of 0.03 μM for paclitaxel.
- Demonstrated robust assay linearity (R² ≥ 0.90) and precision (CV ≤ 10%).
- Successfully quantified drug-tissue interactions in MCF7 breast cancer Microtissues™.
Conclusions:
- The developed method enables precise characterization of drug absorption in microengineered 3D cancer models.
- This platform supports IVIVE for therapeutic optimization and precision medicine applications.
- Scalable and modular design facilitates the use of patient-derived microtissues for individualized treatment decisions.
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