Generation of Tetrafluoroethylene–Propylene Elastomer-Based Microfluidic Devices for Drug Toxicity and Metabolism Studies

• Published in: ACS omega Vol. 6; no. 38; pp. 24859 - 24865
• Main Authors: Sano, Emi, Deguchi, Sayaka, Matsuoka, Naoki, Tsuda, Masahiro, Wang, Mengyang, Kosugi, Kaori, Mori, Chihiro, Yagi, Keisuke, Wada, Aya, Yamasaki, Shinsuke, Kawai, Tsuyoshi, Yodogawa, Masahide, Mizuguchi, Hiroyuki, Nakazawa, Norihito, Yamashita, Fumiyoshi, Torisawa, Yu-suke, Takayama, Kazuo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Chemical Society 28.09.2021
• ISSN: 2470-1343; 2470-1343
• DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c03719

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is widely used to fabricate microfluidic organs-on-chips. Using these devices (PDMS-based devices), the mechanical microenvironment of living tissues, such as pulmonary respiration and intestinal peristalsis, can be reproduced in vitro. However, the use of PDMS-based devices in drug discovery research is limited because of their extensive absorption of drugs. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of the tetrafluoroethylene–propylene (FEPM) elastomer to fabricate a hepatocyte-on-a-chip (FEPM-based hepatocyte chip) with lower drug absorption. The FEPM-based hepatocyte chip expressed drug-metabolizing enzymes, drug-conjugating enzymes, and drug transporters. Also, it could produce human albumin. Although the metabolites of midazolam and bufuralol were hardly detected in the PDMS-based hepatocyte chip, they were detected abundantly in the FEPM-based hepatocyte chip. Finally, coumarin-induced hepatocyte cytotoxicity was less severe in the PDMS-based hepatocyte chip than in the FEPM-based hepatocyte chip, reflecting the different drug absorptions of the two chips. In conclusion, the FEPM-based hepatocyte chip could be a useful tool in drug discovery research, including drug metabolism and toxicity studies.