New Technology to Test Live Toxicity of Drugs
November 27th, 2007 Posted by: Dr. Cox
(Ivanhoe Newswire) â One of the main reasons that drugs are pulled off the market is because of liver toxicity. The problem is researchers have no way to accurately measure how the liver will respond to drugs. In the past, they have relied on liver cells from rats, but they do not always respond the same as human liver cells. Now, researchers from MIT have created tiny colonies of living human liver cells that model the full-sized organ.
In order to build these model livers, MIT researchers use micropatterning technology. This is the same technology used to place tiny copper on computer chips. Essentially, the technology precisely arranges human liver cells on a plate. Because the cells are arranged so precisely, the micro-liver mimics the behavior of a human liver.
Investigators tested the function of their model liver and found it does closely resemble the human liver. Then they found a way to mass produce the miniature liver models using soft lithography. This technique is done using a reusable stencil which allows the patterning of over 888 miniature model livers in a matter of minutes.
Study authors then tested their model livers by testing drugs with known toxicity levels. For example, they tested troglitazone which is a drug that was taken off the market because of liver toxicity. Researchers say their test showed toxicity levels higher than other similar drugs.
A startup company has licensed this technology and is working to introduce it into the pharmaceutical marketplace. Researchers say they hope this new technology will make drugs safer, cheaper and better labeled.
SOURCE: Nature Biotechnology published online on Nov. 2007