PDMS–PEG Block Copolymer and Pretreatment for Arresting Drug Absorption in Microphysiological Devices

Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) is a commonly used polymer in organ-on-a-chip devices and microphysiological systems. However, due to its hydrophobicity and permeability, it absorbs drug compounds, preventing accurate drug screening applications. Here, we developed an effective and facile method to prevent the absorption of drugs by utilizing a PDMS-PEG block copolymer additive and drug pretreatment. First, we incorporated a PDMS-PEG block copolymer into PDMS to address its inherent hydrophobicity. Next, we addressed the permeability of PDMS by eliminating the concentration gradient via pretreatment of the PDMS with the drug prior to experimentally testing drug absorption. The combined use of a PDMS-PEG block copolymer with drug pretreatment resulted in a mean reduction of drug absorption by 91.6% in the optimal condition. Finally, we demonstrated that the proposed method can be applied to prevent drug absorption in a PDMS-based cardiac microphysiological system, enabling more accurate drug studies.