title: In vitro analysis of a hepatic device with intrinsic microvascular-based channels.
abstract: A novel microfluidics-based bilayer device with a discrete parenchymal chamber modeled upon hepatic organ architecture is described. The microfluidics network was designed using computational models to provide appropriate flow behavior based on physiological data from human microvasculature. Patterned silicon wafer molds were used to generate films with the vascular-based microfluidics network design and parenchymal chamber by soft lithography. The assembled device harbors hepatocytes behind a nanoporous membrane that permits transport of metabolites and small proteins while protecting them from the effects of shear stress. The device can sustain both human hepatoma cells and primary rat hepatocytes by continuous in vitro perfusion of medium, allowing proliferation and maintaining hepatic functions such as serum protein synthesis and metabolism. The design and fabrication processes are scalable, enabling the device concept to serve as both a platform technology for drug discovery and toxicity, and for the continuing development of an improved liver-assist device.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.|Department of Surgical and Gastroenterological Sciences, University of Padua, School of Medicine, Padova, Italy.|Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street CPZN-4809, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Amedeo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carraro
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.|Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.|Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street CPZN-4809, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Wen-Ming
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.|Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street CPZN-4809, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kulig
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.|Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street CPZN-4809, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Wing S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Mark L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering Center, Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Cambridge, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Eli J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Weinberg
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Eric F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Swart
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaazempur-Mofrad
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering Center, Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Cambridge, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Borenstein
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.|Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.|Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street CPZN-4809, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vacanti
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. neville@helix.mgh.harvard.edu.|Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. neville@helix.mgh.harvard.edu.|Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street CPZN-4809, Boston, MA, 02114, USA. neville@helix.mgh.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neville
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D019164:Liver, Artificial; D008297:Male; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D016062:Porosity; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D012825:Silicon