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内容記述 |
Preclinical drug testing in animals is costly, raises ethical concerns, and often fails to predict human responses, highlighting the need for alternatives. Microphysiological systems (MPSs) have emerged as alternatives to animal experiments in physiology and drug development. However, conventional MPSs are designed for specific applications and lack versatility and scalability, limiting broader adoption. In this study, we developed a “Buildable and Linkable Organ on a Chip” (BLOC) that enables flexible construction of diverse MPS configurations. In this system, Culture, Control, and Analysis BLOCs have been standardized to the same size and linked using inlet/outlet joints for perfusion. Radiation-induced chemical reactions are used to suppress the adsorption and absorption of small hydrophobic molecules by BLOCs composed of polydimethylsiloxane. BLOCs for 2D/3D culture can also encapsulate radiation-crosslinked protein hydrogels with designed stiffness and microtopography to mimic the microenvironment in vivo. A perfusion device connecting Culture BLOCs is designed for a toxicity assay mimicking systemic circulation using six types of organoids. An automatic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay device connecting Culture, Control, and Analysis BLOCs detects proteins released from organoids. BLOCs, which users can freely configure to suit their needs, are expected to emerge as powerful tools in basic research and preclinical trials using MPSs. |
