Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41536138›Full record

ArticleArtificial organs2026

Measuring Propidium Iodide Brightness as a Function of Viability: A High-Throughput Quantitative Assessment of Hepatic Spheroids.

Michael G Megaly, Diane Tobolt, Bat-Erdene Namsrai, Benjamin Fisher, Anthony An-Fa Dahm Chen, Joseph Sushil Rao, Srivasupradha Ramesh, Anudari Chimedtseren, Mark Clemens, Charles Y Lee and 2 more

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Artificial organs, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Michael G MegalyDivision of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Diane ToboltDivision of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Bat-Erdene NamsraiDivision of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Benjamin FisherDivision of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Anthony An-Fa Dahm ChenDivision of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Joseph Sushil RaoDivision of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Srivasupradha RameshDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Anudari ChimedtserenDivision of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Mark ClemensDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
Charles Y LeeDepartment of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
John C BischofDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6726-7111
Erik B FingerDivision of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3899-6985

Funding

Biostasis Research InstituteNational Science Foundation EEC-1941543NIH HHS DK117425NIH HHS DK131209NIH HHS DK132211
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThree-dimensional (3D) hepatocyte spheroids better recapitulate liver microenvironments than monolayers, but robust, high-throughput viability assessment remains challenging because of diffusion limits and stain penetration.

objectiveTo evaluate a simple imaging-based approach that quantifies spheroid viability by measuring acridine orange (AO) and propidium iodide (PI) fluorescence and computing a PI brightness-to-area ratio.

methodsRat hepatocyte spheroids were formed on a rocker, stained with AO/PI, and imaged on an inverted fluorescence microscope with fixed exposure settings. We prepared mixtures representing nominal 0%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100% viable spheroids and analyzed the relationship between viability and the PI brightness-to-area ratio. Statistical analyses included one-way ANOVA with Tukey's HSD and simple linear regression with diagnostic checks. A urea/DNA functional assay as well as a small blinded study both served as an orthogonal validation.

resultsThe PI brightness-to-area ratio decreased with increasing percent viable cells (Pearson r = -0.99; R

conclusionsA fixed-setting AO/PI imaging workflow yields a rapid, accessible proxy for hepatocyte spheroid viability that correlates with a functional readout. This approach is well-suited to high-throughput screening and method optimization.

Indexed as

HepatocytesPropidiumSpheroids, CellularAcridine OrangeAnimalsCell SurvivalFluorescent DyesHigh-Throughput Screening AssaysMicroscopy, FluorescenceRatsAcridine OrangeFluorescent DyesPropidiumbioartificial liverfluorescence microscopyhepatocyte spheroidsorganoidviability

Identifiers

PMID41536138
PMCPMC13206504

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.