Continuous flowing inlets deliver essential nutrients to the tissue in the microfluidic device
A microfluidic device for tissue biopsy culture and interrogation
Abigail Webster, Charlotte E. Dyer, Stephen J. Haswell and John Greenman, Anal. Methods, 2010
DOI: 10.1039/c0ay00293c
Charlotte Dyer and colleagues at the University of Hull have designed a microfluidic device that can maintain tissue cultures for at least three days – much longer than previous designs, and long enough to perform drug testing. This has the potential to reduce the need for animal testing and improve personalised medicine.
“The tissue is maintained in the device with continuous flow systems delivering essential nutrients and removing waste products in a highly controllable manner and with highly sensitive monitoring,” explains Dyer.
Her team tested the system using both normal and cancerous colon tissue, showing for the first time that a tumour biopsy sample can be maintained and responds to external stimuli, such as drugs. They now intend to test other tissue types, and use the device to test the response of individual patient biopsy tissue samples to chemotherapeutic drugs.
To read Harriet Brewerton’s full news article, go to Highlights in Chemical Biology.
