Microfluidic technology is a valuable tool for realizing more in vitro models capturingcellular and organ level responses for rapid and animal-free risk assessment ofnew chemicals and drugs. Microfluidic cell-based devices allow high-throughputscreening and flexible automation while lowering costs and reagent consumption dueto their miniaturization. There is a growing need for faster and animal-free approachesfor drug development and safety assessment of chemicals (Registration, Evaluation,Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical Substances, REACH). The work presenteddescribes a microfluidic platform for in vivo-like in vitro cell cultivation. It is equippedwith a wafer-based silicon chip including integrated electrodes and a microcavity. Aproof-of-concept using different relevant cell models shows its suitability for labelfreeassessment of cytotoxic effects. A miniaturized microscope within each modulemonitors cell morphology and proliferation. Electrodes integrated in the microfluidicchannels allow the noninvasive monitoring of barrier integrity followed by a label-freeassessment of cytotoxic effects. Each microfluidic cell cultivation module can beoperated individually or be interconnected in a flexible way. The interconnection ofthe different modules aims at simulation of the whole-body exposure and responseand can contribute to the replacement of animal testing in risk assessment studies incompliance with the 3Rs to replace, reduce, and refine animal experiments.
