Abstract

Body on a Chip: A Transformative Approach to Improve Drug Development

Michael Shuler, Samuel B. Eckert Professor of Engineering, Cornell University; President Hesperos, Inc.

A physiologically representative, multi-organ microphysiological systems (MPS) based on human tissues (also known as “human-on-a-chip” TM) may be a transformative technology to improve the selection of drug candidates most likely to earn regulatory approval from clinical trials. Such microscale systems combine organized human tissues with the techniques of microfabrication based on PBPK (Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic) models.

I will describe such systems being constructed at Hesperos and at Cornell. They are “self-contained” in that they can operate independently and do not require external pumps as is the case with many other microphysiological systems. They are “low cost”, in part, because of the simplicity and reliability of operation. They maintain a ratio of fluid (blood surrogate) to cells that is more physiologic than in many other in vitro systems allowing the observation of the effects of not only drugs but their metabolites. While systems can be sampled to measure the concentrations of drugs, metabolites, or biomarkers, they also can be interrogated in situ for functional responses such as electrical activity, force generation, or integrity of barrier function. Operation up to 28 days has been achieved allowing observation of both acute and chronic responses with serum free media.

We have worked with various combinations of internal organ module