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Yang X, Pan R, Ning K, Xie Y, Chen F, Sun W, Yu L. High throughput generating stable spheroids with tip-refill wafer. Biotechnol J 2024; 19:e2300427. [PMID: 38403449 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202300427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures have garnered significant attention in biomedical research due to their ability to mimic the in vivo cellular environment more accurately. The formation of 3D cell spheroids using hanging drops has emerged as a cost-effective and crucial method for generating uniformly-sized spheroids. This study aimed to validate the potential of a tip-refill wafer (TrW), a disposable laboratory item used to hold pipette tips, in facilitating 3D cell culture. The TrW allows for easy generation of hanging drops by pipetting the solution into the holes of the wafer. The mechanical stability of the hanging drops is ensured by the surface wettability and thickness of the TrW. Hanging drops containing 60-µL of solution remained securely attached to the TrW even when subjected to orbital shaking at 210 rpm. The exceptional resistance to mechanical shaking enabled the use of inertial focusing to facilitate spheroid formation. This was demonstrated through live/dead cell staining, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis, and cytoskeleton staining, which revealed that horizontal orbiting at 60 rpm for 15 min promoted cell aggregation and ultimately led to the formation of 3D spheroids. The spheroid harvest rate is 96.1% ± 3.5% across three TrWs, each containing 60 hanging drops. In addition to generating mono-culture 3D spheroids, the TrW-based hanging drop platform also enables the formation of multicellular spheroids, and on-demand pairing and fusion of spheroids. The TrW is a disposable item that does not require any fabrication or surface modification procedures, further enhancing its application potential in conventional biological laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing, Ministry of Education, Institute for Clean Energy and Advanced Materials, School of Materials and Energy, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Rong Pan
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing, Ministry of Education, Institute for Clean Energy and Advanced Materials, School of Materials and Energy, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ke Ning
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing, Ministry of Education, Institute for Clean Energy and Advanced Materials, School of Materials and Energy, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuanyuan Xie
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing, Ministry of Education, Institute for Clean Energy and Advanced Materials, School of Materials and Energy, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Feng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing, Ministry of Education, Institute for Clean Energy and Advanced Materials, School of Materials and Energy, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wei Sun
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, China
| | - Ling Yu
- Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing, Ministry of Education, Institute for Clean Energy and Advanced Materials, School of Materials and Energy, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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Waseem M, Wang BD. Organoids: An Emerging Precision Medicine Model for Prostate Cancer Research. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1093. [PMID: 38256166 PMCID: PMC10816550 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) has been known as the most prevalent cancer disease and the second leading cause of cancer mortality in men almost all over the globe. There is an urgent need for establishment of PCa models that can recapitulate the progress of genomic landscapes and molecular alterations during development and progression of this disease. Notably, several organoid models have been developed for assessing the complex interaction between PCa and its surrounding microenvironment. In recent years, PCa organoids have been emerged as powerful in vitro 3D model systems that recapitulate the molecular features (such as genomic/epigenomic changes and tumor microenvironment) of PCa metastatic tumors. In addition, application of organoid technology in mechanistic studies (i.e., for understanding cellular/subcellular and molecular alterations) and translational medicine has been recognized as a promising approach for facilitating the development of potential biomarkers and novel therapeutic strategies. In this review, we summarize the application of PCa organoids in the high-throughput screening and establishment of relevant xenografts for developing novel therapeutics for metastatic, castration resistant, and neuroendocrine PCa. These organoid-based studies are expected to expand our knowledge from basic research to clinical applications for PCa diseases. Furthermore, we also highlight the optimization of PCa cultures and establishment of promising 3D organoid models for in vitro and in vivo investigations, ultimately facilitating mechanistic studies and development of novel clinical diagnosis/prognosis and therapies for PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Waseem
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD 21853, USA;
| | - Bi-Dar Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD 21853, USA;
- Hormone Related Cancers Program, University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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Buskin A, Scott E, Nelson R, Gaughan L, Robson CN, Heer R, Hepburn AC. Engineering prostate cancer in vitro: what does it take? Oncogene 2023; 42:2417-2427. [PMID: 37438470 PMCID: PMC10403358 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02776-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
A key challenge in the clinical management and cause of treatment failure of prostate cancer (PCa) is its molecular, cellular and clinical heterogeneity. Modelling systems that fully recapitulate clinical diversity and resistant phenotypes are urgently required for the development of successful personalised PCa therapies. The advent of the three-dimensional (3D) organoid model has revolutionised preclinical cancer research through reflecting heterogeneity and offering genomic and environmental manipulation that has opened up unparalleled opportunities for applications in disease modelling, high-throughput drug screening and precision medicine. Despite these remarkable achievements of organoid technology, several shortcomings in emulating the complex tumor microenvironment and dynamic process of metastasis as well as the epigenome profile limit organoids achieving true in vivo functionality. Technological advances in tissue engineering have enabled the development of innovative tools to facilitate the design of improved 3D cancer models. In this review, we highlight the current in vitro 3D PCa models with a special focus on organoids and discuss engineering approaches to create more physiologically relevant PCa organoid models and maximise their translational relevance that ultimately will help to realise the transformational power of precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Buskin
- Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Paul O'Gorman Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Emma Scott
- Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Paul O'Gorman Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Ryan Nelson
- Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Paul O'Gorman Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Luke Gaughan
- Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Paul O'Gorman Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Craig N Robson
- Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Paul O'Gorman Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Rakesh Heer
- Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Paul O'Gorman Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK.
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, W12 0NN, UK.
| | - Anastasia C Hepburn
- Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Paul O'Gorman Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK.
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Padmyastuti A, Sarmiento MG, Dib M, Ehrhardt J, Schoon J, Somova M, Burchardt M, Roennau C, Pinto PC. Microfluidic-based prostate cancer model for investigating the secretion of prostate-specific antigen and microRNAs in vitro. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11623. [PMID: 37468746 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38834-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The study of prostate cancer in vitro relies on established cell lines that lack important physiological characteristics, such as proper polarization and expression of relevant biomarkers. Microphysiological systems (MPS) can replicate cancer microenvironments and lead to cellular phenotypic changes that better represent organ physiology in vitro. In this study, we developed an MPS model comprising conventional prostate cancer cells to evaluate their activity under dynamic culture conditions. Androgen-sensitive (LNCaP) and androgen-insensitive (PC3) cells were grown in conventional and 3D cultures, both static and dynamic. Cell morphology, the secretion of prostate-specific antigen, and the expression of key prostate markers and microRNAs were analyzed. LNCaP formed spheroids in 3D and MPS cultures, with morphological changes supported by the upregulation of cytokeratins and adhesion proteins. LNCaP also maintained a constant prostate-specific antigen secretion in MPS. PC3 cells did not develop complex structures in 3D and MPS cultures. PSA expression at the gene level was downregulated in LNCaP-MPS and considerably upregulated in PC3-MPS. MicroRNA expression was altered by the 3D static and dynamic culture, both intra- and extracellularly. MicroRNAs associated with prostate cancer progression were mostly upregulated in LNCaP-MPS. Overall dynamic cell culture substantially altered the morphology and expression of LNCaP cells, arguably augmenting their prostate cancer phenotype. This novel approach demonstrates that microRNA expression in prostate cancer cells is sensitive to external stimuli and that MPS can effectively promote important physiological changes in conventional prostate cancer models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adventina Padmyastuti
- Department of Urology, University Medicine Greifswald, Fleischmannstraße 8, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Marina Garcia Sarmiento
- Department of Urology, University Medicine Greifswald, Fleischmannstraße 8, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Maria Dib
- Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery, University Medicine Greifswald, Fleischmannstraße 8, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jens Ehrhardt
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medicine Greifswald, Fleischmannstraße 8, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Janosch Schoon
- Center for Orthopaedics, Trauma Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Fleichmannstraße 8, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Maryna Somova
- Department of Urology, University Medicine Greifswald, Fleischmannstraße 8, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Martin Burchardt
- Department of Urology, University Medicine Greifswald, Fleischmannstraße 8, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Cindy Roennau
- Department of Urology, University Medicine Greifswald, Fleischmannstraße 8, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Pedro Caetano Pinto
- Department of Urology, University Medicine Greifswald, Fleischmannstraße 8, 17475, Greifswald, Germany.
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