We aimed to explore the optimization and application of a bionic system of dynamic co-culture with hepatocytes and renal cells based on the microfluidic chip technique in evaluating emodin, which might replace the conventionally cytological evaluation technique of health food. After optimal experiments, the improved bionic system was composed of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2), human renal glomerular endothelial cells (HRGECs), rat tail collagen type I, and gelatin with optimized concentrations (1.3 mg/mL + 7.5%). The applicability of the bionic system indicated that the growth stability was appropriate (CV: 7.36%), and the cell viability of that gradually decreased with the increasing of emodin concentration from 0−100 μM, which statistic significances were at 50 and 100 μM (p < 0.05), and the stained results of dead/live cells also showed the same trend. The LDH level appeared rising trend after decline between 0 μM and 100 μM emodi, and the level of that at 100 μM emodin was significantly higher than that at 25 μM and 50 μM emodin, respectively. The BUN level continuously and significantly declined with the increasing of emodin concentration (p < 0.05). Our research realized the application of this optimized bionic system in evaluating emodin, and provided a useful platform and reference for further in vitro alternative research with regard to evaluating the efficacies of health food in the future.
Keywords: bionic system; co-culture of hepatocytes and renal cells; emodin; microfluidic chip; raw material of health food.