Side-effect test of sorafenib using 3-D skin equivalent based on microfluidic skin-on-a-chip

Sorafenib is a neovascular blocker that prevents the formation of new blood vessels, and by consequence, the growth of cancer tissue, through multiple kinase inhibitors that target angiogenesis. However, several side effects have been reported by patients on sorafenib. Therefore, this study investigates the skin side effects of sorafenib as revealed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and immunohistochemical staining results using a human skin equivalent model produced from human fibroblast and keratinocyte. Thickening of the granules and the protein expressed through the changes on the granular layer, similar to the tissues of an actual patient, was observed. It is expected that the findings of this study will greatly improve the preclinical evaluations and promote the use of the skin-on-a-chip system for evaluating the side effects of drugs and the efficacy of cosmetics.