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Explore our solutions


PhysioMimix® is a suite of hardware, consumables and assay protocols that enable you to recreate complex human biology and accurately predict human drug responses.

PhysioMimix OOC

physiomimix-single-and-multi-organ-on-a-chip-systems
Learn more

Consumables

Multi-chip plates
3D validated cells
NASH-in-a-box
Bioavailability assay kit: Human 18
DILI assay kit: Human 24
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Models

Single-organ models
- Liver-on-a-chip model
- Lung-on-a-chip model
Multi-organ models
- Gut/Liver-on-a-chip models

Support packages

PhysioMimix® support packages

Discover the applications


Investigate the application areas that our PhysioMimix® products and services support

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Disease modeling

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis
Hepatitis B
Pulmonary infection
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Safety toxicology

Drug-induced liver injury
Immune-mediated liver injury
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ADME

Drug absorption
Drug metabolism
Drug bioavailability
Oligonucleotide delivery
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Studies as a service


Our team will work collaboratively with you to design a study around your research goals and generate actionable data within weeks

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icon-nash-1-150x150.png MASLD/MASH
icon-dili-tox-150x150.png Drug-induced liver injury
icon-adme-150x150.png ADME

Hepatitis B

How does Hepatitis B virus infection cause human disease?


It is difficult to replicate the complexity of the liver using cell lines and primary human hepatocyte cultures. The specificity of HBV means that few suitable animal models exist. The lack of suitable model systems limits the study of HBV and the development of new therapeutics.

HBV attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease. It is one of the most common infectious diseases globally and the inflammation caused by HBV can lead to cirrhosis, impaired liver function, and an increased risk of liver cancer.

Traditional 2D cell lines and animal models such as humanized liver mice don’t provide long-term, highly functional liver models that replicate the physiological environment needed for HBV infection.

Our solution

The primary human hepatocyte cultures in our Liver-on-a-chip can be infected with HBV and maintained for at least 40 days, enabling the recapitulation of the entire HBV life cycle.

Infection with viral inoculum leads to long-term expression of antigens and viral DNA, allowing the anti-HBV response of drugs across a range of modalities to be evaluated.

The PhysioMimix® HBV Assay shows increased expression of NTCP, the liver bile acid transporter that is key to initiating the HBV infection in the liver, which is not present in 2D models. This assay also provides greater cumulative increases in the HBV surface antigen replicating the in vivo environment more closely.

Innate immune and cytokine responses after infection with HBV mimic those observed in HBV-infected patients. This allows the study of pathways that are important for immune evasion and the validation of biomarkers.

Hepatitis B cells

Studying HBV

Limitations with current techniques

  • Infection of primary human hepatocytes requires high multiplicity of infection (MOI)
  • Few systems allow the study of immune response and host/pathogen interactions
  • Cancer cell lines expressing HBV have limited physiological relevance
  • Humanized mouse models are fragile, slow, and expensive

Advancements with PhysioMimix OOC

  • Stable culture at reduced MOI
  • Enables detailed longitudinal analysis of hepatocytes, non-parenchymal cells, and circulating immune cells
  • Primary hepatocyte model expresses full liver function and complete HBV life cycle
  • Human models available in days not months

End point measurements


Longitudinal and endpoint measurements include (but not limited to):

Functionality biomarkers

  • Cytochrome P450 enzyme activity
  • Albumin production
  • Urea production

Profiling analysis

  • Lactose dehydrogenase (LDH) release
  • Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)
  • Cell viability
  • Inflammatory response profiling
    • Cytokine & chemokine immunoassays
    • Confocal microscopy
  • Transcriptomics:
    • Cellular phenotypes
    • Viral receptor expression
    • Genetic perturbations

Infection biomarker

Quantification using microscopy / qPCR / immunoassay of:

  • Viral antigen
  • HBV DNA
  • HBV pgRNA
  • HBV cccDNA

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Infected liver microtissues recapitulate the complete HBV lifecycle 


Following 10 days post-infection Hepatocyte and Kupffer cell microtissues are stained for the expression of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg – green) and HBV core antigen (HBcAg – red).

Ortega-Prieto et al., 2019

Mock, day 10 cells
HBV infected cells, day 10

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HBV infection can be launched from multiple sources of virus


Increasing levels of virus inoculum launch varying degrees of infection within the liver microtissues as assessed by the production of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and secreted HBV DNA.

Ortega-Prieto et al., 2019

Increasing levels of virus inoculum line graph

Explore our Liver-on-a-chip models


Recreate the 3D multi-cellular architecture of the liver using perfused scaffolds. Achieve longer-term viability, enhanced functionality & high metabolic activity.

Learn more

Add PhysioMimix OOC into your lab


Harness the power of PhysioMimix OOC in your own lab with the purchase of a single- or multi-organ microphysiological system. With a growing community of users and support from our experts, there has never been a better time to transition into 3D cell culture.

Learn more

Featured resources

Scientific publications

3D microfluidic liver cultures as a physiological preclinical tool for hepatitis B virus infection | Hepatitis B life cycle

3D microfluidic liver cultures as a physiological preclinical tool for hepatitis B virus infection

Scientific publications

Liver on a Chip Hepatitis B 2019 Graphic | Hepatitis B life cycle

“Liver-on-a-Chip” Cultures of Primary Hepatocytes and Kupffer Cells for Hepatitis B Virus Infection

View all Hepatitis B related resources

Speak to our experts

Request a meeting with one of our OOC experts to see how our products and services can support your studies

Request a meeting

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Latest news

  • Integrating In Silico Tools with Organ-on-a-Chip to advance ADME studies July 15, 2025
  • NIH to prioritize human-based research technologies & reduce animal use in research July 7, 2025
  • CN Bio to participate in 3Rs Collaborative-lead project with FDA to build confidence in Liver MPS for DILI June 25, 2025
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