Patent ID: 7288405
Filing Date: 2007-10-30
Classification: C12M,C12N,G01N

Abstract:
1. A pharmacokinetic based microscale culture device, comprising: a first microscale chamber containing a first type of cell, wherein the first microscale chamber is dimensioned to maintain the first type of cell under conditions that give rise to at least one pharmacokinetic parameter value comparable to a value for the same at least one pharmacokinetic parameter obtained with respect to the same type of cell in vivo, wherein the at least one pharmacokinetic parameter value is selected from the group consisting of a measurement of liquid residence time, and liquid to cell ratio, wherein the first chamber comprises a first inlet and a first outlet for flow of culture medium; a second microscale chamber containing a second type of cell, wherein the second microscale chamber is dimensioned to maintain the second type of cell under conditions that give rise to at least one pharmacokinetic parameter value comparable to a value for the same at least one pharmacokinetic parameter obtained with respect to the same type of cell in vivo, wherein the second chamber comprises a second inlet and a second outlet for flow of culture medium; and a microfluidic channel interconnecting the first and second microscale chambers wherein the microfluidic channel is dimensioned to transport a culture medium, and wherein the microscale culture device is dimensioned to maintain at least one desired value for shear stress under a condition of flow of the culture medium.