Patent ID: 11867689
Assignee: ORGANOVO, INC.
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  C | IPC C  G

Claim 6:
7. A method of testing the viability of renal tubular epithelial cells in the presence of a therapeutic agent, comprising:
a. contacting the therapeutic agent with a three-dimensional, engineered, bioprinted, biological renal tubule model comprising:
i. a layer of renal interstitial tissue, the renal interstitial tissue comprising renal fibroblasts and endothelial cells, and
ii. a layer of renal epithelial tissue, the renal epithelial tissue comprising renal tubular epithelial cells from a subject with a disease that affects kidney function,
wherein the fibroblasts and endothelial cells are present in a ratio of fibroblasts to endothelial cells at which the renal tubule model is planar six days post- printing; and

b. measuring gamma glutamyl-transferase (GGT) activity in the renal tubule model that has been contacted with the therapeutic agent compared to a control renal tubule model that has not been contacted with the therapeutic agent;
wherein decreased GGT activity in the renal tubule model that has been contacted with the therapeutic agent compared to the control renal tubule model is indicative of reduced viability of the renal tubular epithelial cells.