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 Funding initiative „KMU-innovativ: Biotechnologie – BioChance“ Development and manufacturing of a microthermoforming machine for the production of film-based 3D cell culture chips (3D-KITChip)The current gold standard for the prediction of human hepatotoxicity is still animal studies that are largely hampered by high cost, poor predictivity and a common ethical problem. While 85% of cardiovascular, 88% of gastrointestinal and 90% of hematological toxicity can be predicted by animal toxicity tests, hepatotoxicity prediction still suffers from less than a 50% accuracy and is therefore recognized as inappropriate for drug screening campaigns. For an improved risk assessment, there is a need for predictive and inexpensive in vitro models that reflect the in vivo (human) situation better than classical cell cultures (e.g. monolayer). One option is an organ-like, three-dimensional in vitro cell culture. The patented approach of the Institute for Biological Interfaces-1 of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is a system based on a microstructured chip, which allows an actively perfused 3D cell culture. Due to the slice-format of the chip, it is compatible with standard microscopes of any laboratory.
Figure: 3D-KITChip variants: p-, f- and r-3D-KITChip (with kind permission of Dr. E. Gottwald, KIT)
Further advantages over common 2D cell culture systems are the need of only small cell numbers and the contamination resistence of closed perfused systems. The 3D-KITChips are currently produced by micro-injection moulding or hot embossing at the laboratory scale. The aim of the project is to develop a pilot plant suitable for large-scale production of 3D-KITChips based on microthermoforming. This would enable use of the technology not only for basic research but also as organ-like screening system for the pharmaceutical industry.
The 3D-KITChip project is a collaboration of these industrial / academic partners:
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