Scientists from Cellbox Labs, the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia (ISSP UL), and Riga Technical University have published a peer-reviewed study in Scientific Reports that advances the understanding of small molecule dynamics within microfluidic systems made from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) polymers —crucial for pharmaceutical, toxicological, and biomedical research. The new study challenges the longstanding assumption that hydrophobicity alone governs compound absorption in microfluidic device materials. By systematically analyzing how seven small-molecule drugs interact with two different materials, the researchers show that compound-material interactions are governed by multiple factors, including different molecule parameters like hydrogen bond acceptor count, molecular weight, and topological polar surface area—not just hydrophobicity. Crucially, COC also enables faster washout—a big win for reproducibility in toxicology and pharma testing. This study proves COC outperforms PDMS in minimizing drug loss—paving the way for industry-wide adoption of COC-based organ-on-a-chip models as the new standard in preclinical testing.

Read full article here: Sorption and release of small molecules in PDMS and COC for Organs on chip | Scientific Reports