Integrated Experimental–Computational Framework for Drug Transport Quantification in 3D Microtissues™

While traditional 2D in vitro models have been widely used for drug screening, 3D tissue culture systems are gaining traction due to their superior ability to replicate in vivo tumor microenvironments. In this study, we utilize <i>Microtissues</i>™, a validated, scaffold-free, high-throughput 3D tissue culture platform, as the basis for a microscale tissue-engineered model to study drug absorption and transport dynamics. Despite their physiological relevance, such 3D constructs pose analytical challenges, particularly in quantifying trace drug levels within the microenvironment. We developed and validated an integrated experimental workflow combining optimized liquid-liquid extraction and protein precipitation with LC-MS/MS analysis to accurately quantify paclitaxel absorption in <i>Microtissues</i>™ molds using small sample volumes. The assay achieved a validated lower limit of quantification of 0.03 μM, with robust linearity across analytical runs (R² ≥ 0.90; best-run performance > 0.99) and precision (CV ≤ 10%) across both MRMs. This microengineered in vitro system allows for precise characterization of drug-tissue interactions in MCF7 breast cancer <i>Microtissues</i>™, enabling in vitro-to-in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) relevant to therapeutic optimization. The platform's scalability and modularity support its application in precision medicine, where patient-derived microtissues can guide individualized treatment decisions.