Imaging Bile Canaliculi in 3D Liver Microtissues Using the Opera Phenix High Content Screening System

Analyzing transport of biliary metabolites is essential to predict pharmacokinetics and hepatotoxicity during drug development. A functional impairment of hepatobilary transporters, such as bile salt export pump (BSEP) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP-2), is strongly associated with an increased risk of cholestatic liver injury. Traditional models lack the functional complexity of the natural 3-dimensional (3D) liver environment. Here, we describe a 3D high content screening assay to study hepatobiliary transporter function in InSphero human liver microtissues using the Opera Phenix™ High Content Screening System.