The controlled presentation of TGF-β1 to hepatocytes in a 3D-microfluidic cell culture system

✍ Scribed by Chi Zhang; Ser-Mien Chia; Siew-Min Ong; Shufang Zhang; Yi-Chin Toh; Danny van Noort; Hanry Yu

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 677 KB
• Volume: 30
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0142-9612
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2009.03.052

✦ Synopsis

3D-microfluidic cell culture systems (3D-microFCCSs) support hepatocyte functions in vitro which can be further enhanced by controlled presentation of 100-200 pg/ml TGF-beta1, thus mimicking the roles of supporting cells in co-cultures. Controlled presentation of TGF-beta1 is achieved by either direct perfusion or in situ controlled release from gelatin microspheres immobilized in the 3D-microFCCS. Primary hepatocytes cultured for 7 days with the in situ controlled released TGF-beta1 exhibited up to four-fold higher albumin secretion and two-fold higher phase I/II enzymatic activities, significantly improving the sensitivity of hepatocytes to acetaminophen-mediated hepatotoxicity, compared to hepatocytes cultured with directly perfused TGF-beta1 or without TGF-beta1. The controlled presentation of TGF-beta1 enhanced hepatocyte functions in microfluidic systems without the complications of co-cultures, allowing for simplifications in drug testing and other hepatocyte-based applications.