A cell culture analog (CCA) system is a device for in vitro prediction of systemic response of an animal or human to chemical exposure or to delivery of drugs. Cells grown on microscale chips can be used to evaluate the effects of drugs and chemicals at an early stage, at molecular and cellular levels. Such devices are called microscale cell culture analog (microCCA). In this work, a four-chamber (lung-liver-fat-other tissue) microCCA system containing two-dimensional L2 rat lung cells, HepG2/C3A human hepatocytes is treated with different naphthalenediols (gifts from J. Wright, Ottawa University, Canada) for 6 hours and the toxicity is studied. These new naphthalenediols are potential antioxidants for anti-aging drugs.

The microCCA devices could be constructed by using silicon or polystyrene substrate. New generations of microCCA systems with cells cultured three-dimensionally in gels (Matrigel, Collagen, Alginate, Agarose or Gelatin) are under development. In three-dimensional cell cultures, the biological environment of real tissues can be better reproduced. A new microCCA chip specifically designed for gel-based cell culture is proposed. It has more realistic liquid-to-cell ratio. The geometry of the chambers was also changed to enable the application of fat mimic materials in the fat chamber so we can study the bioaccumulation of toxicant. The modified geometry also facilitates fabrication. Compared with animal experiments, this new technology is faster, cheaper, more efficient and much less complicated in result interpretation.