A Perfused In-Vitro Model of the Human Subcutaneous Tissue for Bioavailability Assessment

Subcutaneous delivery is the preferred route for administering peptides and proteins such as beta interferons and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and cancers respectively. However, determining the bioavailability of these macromolecules relies on animal models and, currently, no robust in-vitro tools to assess subcutaneous bioavailability are available. Indeed, animal models are extensively used for bioavailability testing and for dose and formulation selection. Although different animal species are usually tested, the prediction of human bioavailability from animal testing is limited, often very costly and inefficient. To tackle this problem, I will develop a model of the human subcutaneous tissue to replace animal testing. This model will enable the high throughput testing of formulations and the accurate assessment of bioavailability.