Devices and methods for simulating a function of liver tissue

A method for testing toxicity of a compound, comprising:

• providing a fluidic device comprising a first structure defining a first chamber, a second structure defining a second chamber, and a membrane located at an interface region between the first chamber and the second chamber, the membrane including a first side facing toward the first chamber and a second side facing toward the second chamber, wherein the first side of the membrane comprises an ECM gel layer
• a) seeding hepatocytes and stellate cells in said first chamber, wherein said hepatocytes and stellate cells are embedded within the ECM gel layer, and seeding liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and Kupffer cells in said second chamber;
• b) perfusing at least one of the first chamber and second chamber with at least one fluid;
• c) disposing a test compound into said fluid, or introducing a second fluid comprising said test compound, such that hepatocytes, endothelial cells or both come in contact with said test compound;
• d) stopping said perfusing in said first chamber, said second chamber, or both, so as to increase the residence time of said test compound within said fluidic device, and
• e) detecting a higher level of activation of said stellate cells embedded in said ECM gel layer in the presence of said test compound compared to a level of activation of said stellate cells that are not exposed to said test compound, thereby determining that said test compound is toxic to said hepatocytes.

A method for testing toxicity of a compound, comprising:

• a) providing a fluidic device comprising a first structure defining a first chamber, a second structure defining a second chamber, and a membrane located at an interface region between the first chamber and the second chamber, the membrane including a first side facing toward the first chamber and a second side facing toward the second chamber, wherein the first side of the membrane comprises an ECM gel layer;
• b) seeding hepatocytes and stellate cells in said first chamber, wherein said hepatocytes and stellate cells are embedded within the ECM gel and seeding liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and Kupffer cells in said second chamber, wherein said stellate cells are embedded in an ECM gel in said first chamber;
• c) perfusing at least one of the first chamber or second chamber with at least one fluid;
• d) disposing a test compound into said fluid such that hepatocytes, endothelial cells/stellate cells or both come in contact with said test compound;
• e) recirculating said fluid so as to increase the interaction time of said test compound with said cells, and
• f) detecting a higher level of activation of said stellate cells embedded in said ECM gel layer in the presence of said test compound compared to a level of activation of said stellate cells that are not exposed to said test compound, thereby determining that said test compound is toxic to said hepatocytes.