Thursday, 22 July 2021 12:42

Zurich: Embryotoxicity tests on the chip Featured

Researchers at ETH Zurich have established the link between the placenta and an embryoid corpuscle on a microfluidic chip, which can be used to detect indications of possible developmental toxicity of substances.

For their developments, the researchers, led by Prof. Andreas Hierlemann from the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, used a multiorgan-on-a-chip platform with two wells connected by tiny channels. Human trophoblast cells (BeWo b30 cell line) were introduced into one of the wells, which formed a dense placenta barrier after three days. Mouse embryonic stem cells were then seeded into the second well, from which so-called embryoid bodies developed. These were used as an early stage of a developing embryo. The necessary medium was supplied via a tilting movement without a pump in order to avoid disturbances due to possible shear forces.

In a proof-of-concept study, the coculture was exposed to microparticles and its possible influence on the developing "embryo" was investigated. While no changes were observed after contact of the embryoid corpuscles with the microparticles themselves, it behaved differently after a previous exposure of the placental cells with subsequent passage through the barrier. The researchers subsequently described the embryo cells as weakened, even though the placental cells were able to retain the microparticles.

The team of scientists now wants to improve the test by using human stem cells. The goal is to at least reduce animal testing in developmental toxicity studies.

Original publication:
Julia A. Boos, Patrick M. Misun, Giulia Brunoldi, Lea A. Furer, Leonie Aengenheister, Mario Modena, Nassim Rousset, Tina Buerki-Thurnherr, and Andreas Hierlemann (2021). Microfluidic Co-Culture Platform to Recapitulate the Maternal-Placental-Embryonic Axis. Adv. Biology, 2100609.
DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202100609

More information:
https://nachrichten.idw-online.de/2021/07/21/toxizitaetstest-mit-plazenta-und-embryo/?groupcolor