1
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Ryoo H, Kimmel H, Rondo E, Underhill GH. Advances in high throughput cell culture technologies for therapeutic screening and biological discovery applications. Bioeng Transl Med 2024; 9:e10627. [PMID: 38818120 PMCID: PMC11135158 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Cellular phenotypes and functional responses are modulated by the signals present in their microenvironment, including extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, tissue mechanical properties, soluble signals and nutrients, and cell-cell interactions. To better recapitulate and analyze these complex signals within the framework of more physiologically relevant culture models, high throughput culture platforms can be transformative. High throughput methodologies enable scientists to extract increasingly robust and broad datasets from individual experiments, screen large numbers of conditions for potential hits, better qualify and predict responses for preclinical applications, and reduce reliance on animal studies. High throughput cell culture systems require uniformity, assay miniaturization, specific target identification, and process simplification. In this review, we detail the various techniques that researchers have used to face these challenges and explore cellular responses in a high throughput manner. We highlight several common approaches including two-dimensional multiwell microplates, microarrays, and microfluidic cell culture systems as well as unencapsulated and encapsulated three-dimensional high throughput cell culture systems, featuring multiwell microplates, micromolds, microwells, microarrays, granular hydrogels, and cell-encapsulated microgels. We also discuss current applications of these high throughput technologies, namely stem cell sourcing, drug discovery and predictive toxicology, and personalized medicine, along with emerging opportunities and future impact areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeon Ryoo
- Bioengineering DepartmentUniversity of Illinois Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIllinoisUSA
| | - Hannah Kimmel
- Bioengineering DepartmentUniversity of Illinois Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIllinoisUSA
| | - Evi Rondo
- Bioengineering DepartmentUniversity of Illinois Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIllinoisUSA
| | - Gregory H. Underhill
- Bioengineering DepartmentUniversity of Illinois Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIllinoisUSA
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2
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Forbes TP, Gillen JG, Feeney W, Ho J. Quality by Design Considerations for Drop-on-Demand Point-of-Care Pharmaceutical Manufacturing of Precision Medicine. Mol Pharm 2024. [PMID: 38661480 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.4c00032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Distributed and point-of-care (POC) manufacturing facilities enable an agile pharmaceutical production paradigm that can respond to localized needs, providing personalized and precision medicine. These capabilities are critical for narrow therapeutic index drugs and pediatric or geriatric dosing, among other specialized needs. Advanced additive manufacturing, three-dimensional (3D) printing, and drop-on-demand (DoD) dispensing technologies have begun to expand into pharmaceutical production. We employed a quality by design (QbD) approach to identify critical quality attributes (CQAs), critical material attributes (CMAs), and critical process parameters (CPPs) of a POC pharmaceutical manufacturing paradigm. This theoretical framework encompasses the production of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) "inks" at a centralized facility, which are distributed to POC sites for DoD dispensing into/onto delivery vehicles (e.g., orodispersible films, capsules, single liquid dose vials). Focusing on the POC dispensing/dosing processes, QbD considerations and cause-and-effect analyses identified the dispensed API quantity and solid-state form (CQAs), as well as the nozzle diameter, system pressure channel, and number of drops dispensed (CPPs) for detailed investigation. Final assay quantification and content uniformity CQAs were measured from demonstrative levothyroxine sodium single-dose liquid vials of glycerin/water, meeting the standard acceptance values. Each POC facility is unlikely to maintain full quality control laboratory capabilities, requiring the development of appropriate atline or inline methods to ensure quality control. We developed control strategies, including atline ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) verification of the API ink prior to dispensing, inline drop counting during dispensing, intermediate atline-dispensed volume checks, and offline batch confirmation by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) following production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas P Forbes
- Materials Measurement Science Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - John Greg Gillen
- Materials Measurement Science Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - William Feeney
- Materials Measurement Science Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Johnny Ho
- Materials Measurement Science Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
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3
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Ding H, Luo L, Su L, Chen J, Li Y, Hu L, Luo K, Tian X. Gasotransmitter nitric oxide imaging in Alzheimer's disease and glioblastoma with diamino-cyclic-metalloiridium phosphorescence probes. Biosens Bioelectron 2024; 247:115939. [PMID: 38145594 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Nitric Oxide (NO), a significant gasotransmitter in biological systems, plays a crucial role in neurological diseases and cancer. Currently, there is a lack of effective methods for rapidly and sensitively identifying NO and elucidating its relationship with neurological diseases. Novel diamino-cyclic-metalloiridium phosphorescence probes, Ir-CDA and Ir-BDA, have been designed to visualize the gasotransmitter NO in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and glioblastoma (GBM). Ir-CDA and Ir-BDA utilize iridium (III) as the central ion and incorporate a diamino group as a ligand. The interaction between the diamino structure and NO leads to the formation of a three-nitrogen five-membered ring structure, which opens up phosphorescence. The two probes can selectively bind to NO and offer low detection limits. Additionally, Ir-BDA/Ir-CDA can image NO in brain cancer cell models, neuroinflammatory models, and AD cell models. Furthermore, the NO content in fresh brain sections from AD mice was considerably higher than that in wild-type (WT) mice. Consequently, it is plausible that NO is generated in significant quantities around cells hosting larger Aβ deposits, gradually diffusing throughout the entire brain region. Furthermore, we posit that this phenomenon is a key factor contributing to the higher brain NO content in AD mice compared to that in WT mice. This discovery offers novel insights into the diagnosis and treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haitao Ding
- Department of Radiology and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610000, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Li Luo
- The Center of Gerontology and Geriatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610000, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Liping Su
- Department of Radiology and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610000, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Junyang Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yunkun Li
- Department of Radiology and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610000, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Lei Hu
- School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241002, China
| | - Kui Luo
- Department of Radiology and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610000, Sichuan Province, China; Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, And Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xiaohe Tian
- Department of Radiology and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610000, Sichuan Province, China.
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4
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Zieger V, Woehr E, Zimmermann S, Frejek D, Koltay P, Zengerle R, Kartmann S. Automated Nanodroplet Dispensing for Large-Scale Spheroid Generation via Hanging Drop and Parallelized Lossless Spheroid Harvesting. MICROMACHINES 2024; 15:231. [PMID: 38398960 PMCID: PMC10893090 DOI: 10.3390/mi15020231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Creating model systems that replicate in vivo tissues is crucial for understanding complex biological pathways like drug response and disease progression. Three-dimensional (3D) in vitro models, especially multicellular spheroids (MCSs), offer valuable insights into physiological processes. However, generating MCSs at scale with consistent properties and efficiently recovering them pose challenges. We introduce a workflow that automates large-scale spheroid production and enables parallel harvesting into individual wells of a microtiter plate. Our method, based on the hanging-drop technique, utilizes a non-contact dispenser for dispensing nanoliter droplets of a uniformly mixed-cell suspension. The setup allows for extended processing times of up to 45 min without compromising spheroid quality. As a proof of concept, we achieved a 99.3% spheroid generation efficiency and maintained highly consistent spheroid sizes, with a coefficient of variance below 8% for MCF7 spheroids. Our centrifugation-based drop transfer for spheroid harvesting achieved a sample recovery of 100%. We successfully transferred HT29 spheroids from hanging drops to individual wells preloaded with collagen matrices, where they continued to proliferate. This high-throughput workflow opens new possibilities for prolonged spheroid cultivation, advanced downstream assays, and increased hands-off time in complex 3D cell culture protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktoria Zieger
- Laboratory for MEMS Applications, IMTEK-Department of Microsystems Engineering, University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 103, D-79110 Freiburg, Germany; (S.Z.); (P.K.); (R.Z.); (S.K.)
| | - Ellen Woehr
- Hahn-Schickard, Georges-Koehler-Allee 103, D-79110 Freiburg, Germany; (E.W.); (D.F.)
- Study Program Molecular and Technical Medicine, Faculty Medical and Life Science, University of Furtwangen, D-78054 Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany
| | - Stefan Zimmermann
- Laboratory for MEMS Applications, IMTEK-Department of Microsystems Engineering, University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 103, D-79110 Freiburg, Germany; (S.Z.); (P.K.); (R.Z.); (S.K.)
| | - Daniel Frejek
- Hahn-Schickard, Georges-Koehler-Allee 103, D-79110 Freiburg, Germany; (E.W.); (D.F.)
| | - Peter Koltay
- Laboratory for MEMS Applications, IMTEK-Department of Microsystems Engineering, University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 103, D-79110 Freiburg, Germany; (S.Z.); (P.K.); (R.Z.); (S.K.)
| | - Roland Zengerle
- Laboratory for MEMS Applications, IMTEK-Department of Microsystems Engineering, University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 103, D-79110 Freiburg, Germany; (S.Z.); (P.K.); (R.Z.); (S.K.)
- Hahn-Schickard, Georges-Koehler-Allee 103, D-79110 Freiburg, Germany; (E.W.); (D.F.)
| | - Sabrina Kartmann
- Laboratory for MEMS Applications, IMTEK-Department of Microsystems Engineering, University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 103, D-79110 Freiburg, Germany; (S.Z.); (P.K.); (R.Z.); (S.K.)
- Hahn-Schickard, Georges-Koehler-Allee 103, D-79110 Freiburg, Germany; (E.W.); (D.F.)
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5
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Höpfner J, Brehm M, Levkin PA. Palladium-Catalyzed Combinatorial Synthesis of Biphenyls on Droplet Microarrays at Nanoliter Scale. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2304325. [PMID: 37726239 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202304325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
The rising costs of pharmaceutical research are currently limiting the productivity of drug discovery and development, but can potentially be diminished via miniaturization of the synthesis and screening of new compounds. As droplet microarrays already present themselves as a versatile tool for highly miniaturized biological screening of various targets, their use for chemical synthesis is still limited. In this study, the influential palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura reaction is successfully implemented at the nanoliter scale on droplet microarrays for the synthesis of an 800-compound library of biphenyls. Each reaction is carried out in individual 150 nL droplets. Remarkably, the synthesis of these 800 compounds requires a minimal amount of reagents, totaling 80 µmol, and a solvent volume of 400 µL. Furthermore, the cleavage kinetics and purity of the obtained biphenylic compounds are investigated. Via the solid-phase synthesis approach, the compounds could be purified from excess reactants and catalyst prior to the analysis and a UV-cleavable linker allows for fast and additive-free cleavage of each compound into the individual 100 nL droplet. This novel approach expands the toolbox of the droplet microarray for miniaturized high-throughput chemical synthesis and paves the way for future synthesis and screening of chemical compounds in a single platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julius Höpfner
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems (IBCS), Hermann-von Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Marius Brehm
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems (IBCS), Hermann-von Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Pavel A Levkin
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems (IBCS), Hermann-von Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Organic Chemistry (IOC), Fritz-Haber-Weg 6, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
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6
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Parent C, Raj Melayil K, Zhou Y, Aubert V, Surdez D, Delattre O, Wilhelm C, Viovy JL. Simple droplet microfluidics platform for drug screening on cancer spheroids. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:5139-5150. [PMID: 37942508 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00417a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
3D in vitro biological systems are progressively replacing 2D systems to increase the physiological relevance of cellular studies. Microfluidics-based approaches can be powerful tools towards such biomimetic systems, but often require high-end complicated and expensive processes and equipment for microfabrication. Herein, a drug screening platform is proposed, minimizing technicality and manufacturing steps. It provides an alternate way of spheroid generation in droplets in tubes. Droplet microfluidics then elicit multiple droplets merging events at programmable times, to submit sequentially the spheroids to chemotherapy and to reagents for cytotoxicity screening. After a comprehensive study of tumorogenesis within the droplets, the system is validated for drug screening (IC50) with chemotherapies in cancer cell lines as well as cells from a patient-derived-xenografts (PDX). As compared to microtiter plates methods, our system reduces the initial number of cells up to 10 times and opens new avenues towards primary tumors drug screening approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Parent
- Laboratoire Physico Chimie Curie, Institut Curie, CNRS, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Kiran Raj Melayil
- Laboratoire Physico Chimie Curie, Institut Curie, CNRS, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Ya Zhou
- Laboratoire Physico Chimie Curie, Institut Curie, CNRS, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Vivian Aubert
- Laboratoire Physico Chimie Curie, Institut Curie, CNRS, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Didier Surdez
- Balgrist University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Delattre
- INSERM U830, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Claire Wilhelm
- Laboratoire Physico Chimie Curie, Institut Curie, CNRS, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Jean-Louis Viovy
- Laboratoire Physico Chimie Curie, Institut Curie, CNRS, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France.
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7
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Cui H, Sun X, Schilling M, Herold-Mende C, Reischl M, Levkin PA, Popova AA, Turcan Ş. Repurposing FDA-Approved Drugs for Temozolomide-Resistant IDH1 Mutant Glioma Using High-Throughput Miniaturized Screening on Droplet Microarray Chip. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2300591. [PMID: 37162029 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202300591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
To address the challenge of drug resistance and limited treatment options for recurrent gliomas with IDH1 mutations, a highly miniaturized screening of 2208 FDA-approved drugs is conducted using a high-throughput droplet microarray (DMA) platform. Two patient-derived temozolomide-resistant tumorspheres harboring endogenous IDH1 mutations (IDH1mut ) are utilized. Screening identifies over 20 drugs, including verteporfin (VP), that significantly affected tumorsphere formation and viability. Proteomics analysis reveals that nuclear pore complex may be a potential VP target, suggesting a new mechanism of action independent of its known effects on YAP1. Knockdown experiments exclude YAP1 as a drug target in tumorspheres. Pathway analysis shows that NUP107 is a potential upstream regulator associated with VP response. Analysis of publicly available genomic datasets shows a significant correlation between high NUP107 expression and decreased survival in IDH1mut astrocytoma, suggesting NUP107 may be a potential biomarker for VP response. This study demonstrates a miniaturized approach for cost-effective drug repurposing using 3D glioma models and identifies nuclear pore complex as a potential target for drug development. The findings provide preclinical evidence to support in vivo and clinical studies of VP and other identified compounds to treat IDH1mut gliomas, which may ultimately improve clinical outcomes for patients with this challenging disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haijun Cui
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Xueyuan Sun
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marcel Schilling
- Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics (IAI), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Christel Herold-Mende
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Markus Reischl
- Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics (IAI), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Pavel A Levkin
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
- Institute of Organic Chemistry (IOC), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Fritz-Haber Weg 6, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Anna A Popova
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Şevin Turcan
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
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Li W, Zhou Z, Zhou X, Khoo BL, Gunawan R, Chin YR, Zhang L, Yi C, Guan X, Yang M. 3D Biomimetic Models to Reconstitute Tumor Microenvironment In Vitro: Spheroids, Organoids, and Tumor-on-a-Chip. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2202609. [PMID: 36917657 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202202609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Decades of efforts in engineering in vitro cancer models have advanced drug discovery and the insight into cancer biology. However, the establishment of preclinical models that enable fully recapitulating the tumor microenvironment remains challenging owing to its intrinsic complexity. Recent progress in engineering techniques has allowed the development of a new generation of in vitro preclinical models that can recreate complex in vivo tumor microenvironments and accurately predict drug responses, including spheroids, organoids, and tumor-on-a-chip. These biomimetic 3D tumor models are of particular interest as they pave the way for better understanding of cancer biology and accelerating the development of new anticancer therapeutics with reducing animal use. Here, the recent advances in developing these in vitro platforms for cancer modeling and preclinical drug screening, focusing on incorporating hydrogels are reviewed to reconstitute physiologically relevant microenvironments. The combination of spheroids/organoids with microfluidic technologies is also highlighted to better mimic in vivo tumors and discuss the challenges and future directions in the clinical translation of such models for drug screening and personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxiu Li
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Zhihang Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhou
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Bee Luan Khoo
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Renardi Gunawan
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Y Rebecca Chin
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Liang Zhang
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Changqing Yi
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering and Technology Center of Advanced and Portable Medical Devices, School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 518107, China
| | - Xinyuan Guan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Mengsu Yang
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
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9
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Shi L, Liu S, Li X, Huang X, Luo H, Bai Q, Li Z, Wang L, Du X, Jiang C, Liu S, Li C. Droplet microarray platforms for high-throughput drug screening. Mikrochim Acta 2023; 190:260. [PMID: 37318602 DOI: 10.1007/s00604-023-05833-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
High-throughput screening platforms are fundamental for the rapid and efficient processing of large amounts of experimental data. Parallelization and miniaturization of experiments are important for improving their cost-effectiveness. The development of miniaturized high-throughput screening platforms is essential in the fields of biotechnology, medicine, and pharmacology. Currently, most laboratories use 96- or 384-well microtiter plates for screening; however, they have disadvantages, such as high reagent and cell consumption, low throughput, and inability to avoid cross-contamination, which need to be further optimized. Droplet microarrays, as novel screening platforms, can effectively avoid these shortcomings. Here, the preparation method of the droplet microarray, method of adding compounds in parallel, and means to read the results are briefly described. Next, the latest research on droplet microarray platforms in biomedicine is presented, including their application in high-throughput culture, cell screening, high-throughput nucleic acid screening, drug development, and individualized medicine. Finally, the challenges and future trends in droplet microarray technology are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Shi
- School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China
| | - Sutong Liu
- Juxing College of Digital Economics, Haikou University of Economics, Haikou, 570100, China
| | - Xue Li
- Sichuan Hanyuan County People's Hospital, Hanyuan, 625300, China
| | - Xiwei Huang
- Ministry of Education Key Lab of RFCircuits and Systems, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, 310038, China
| | - Hongzhi Luo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University (The First People's Hospital of Zunyi), Zunyi, 563002, China
| | - Qianwen Bai
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University (The First People's Hospital of Zunyi), Zunyi, 563002, China
| | - Zhu Li
- College of Medical Technology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610075, China
| | - Lijun Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Xiaoxin Du
- Office of Scientific Research & Development, University of Electronic Science and Technology, Chengdu, 610054, China
| | - Cheng Jiang
- Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, 518172, China
| | - Shan Liu
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Department of Medical Genetics, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610072, China.
| | - Chenzhong Li
- Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, 518172, China
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10
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Hou Y, Zheng Y, Zheng X, Sun Y, Yi X, Wu Z, Lin JM. Multidimensional controllable fabrication of tumor spheroids based on a microfluidic device. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:2654-2663. [PMID: 37190976 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00251a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTSs) are in vitro solid tumor models with physiological relevance. To achieve robust process control, a MCTS fabrication method that combines cell membrane engineering and droplet microfluidic techniques is designed. The fluidic control and the chemical interactions between biotin and streptavidin enable artificial cell aggregation to be accomplished in seconds. Then, spheroids with a uniform size are fabricated within alginate microcapsules. Microfluidic mixing-based cell aggregation regulates the cell aggregate size and the spheroid composition, and the microcapsules regulate the size of spheroids from 120 to 180 μm. The method shows applicability for various cancer cell lines, including HCT116, HepG2, and A549. In addition, composite colon cancer spheroids consisting of HCT116 and NIH3T3 with predetermined cell ratios and uniform distributions are produced. The generated MCTSs are assessed using the ELISA and UPLC-MS/MS techniques. The release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) resistance differ in the monotypic and cocultured colon cancer models. Our method provides a robust way to produce consistent and customized MCTSs in cancer research and drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Hou
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.
| | - Yajing Zheng
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.
| | - Xiaonan Zheng
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.
| | - Yucheng Sun
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.
| | - Xizhen Yi
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.
| | - Zengnan Wu
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.
| | - Jin-Ming Lin
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China.
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11
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Wu Y, Zhao Y, Zhou Y, Islam K, Liu Y. Microfluidic Droplet-Assisted Fabrication of Vessel-Supported Tumors for Preclinical Drug Discovery. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:15152-15161. [PMID: 36920885 PMCID: PMC10249002 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c23305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
High-fidelity in vitro tumor models are important for preclinical drug discovery processes. Currently, the most commonly used model for in vitro drug testing remains the two-dimensional (2D) cell monolayer. However, the natural in vivo tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of extracellular matrix (ECM), supporting stromal cells and vasculature. They not only participate in the progression of tumors but also hinder drug delivery and effectiveness on tumor cells. Here, we report an integrated engineering system to generate vessel-supported tumors for preclinical drug screening. First, gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel was selected to mimic tumor extracellular matrix (ECM). HCT-116 tumor cells were encapsulated into individual micro-GelMA beads with microfluidic droplet technique to mimic tumor-ECM interactions in vitro. Then, normal human lung fibroblasts were mingled with tumor cells to imitate the tumor-stromal interaction. The tumor cells and fibroblasts reconstituted in the individual GelMA microbead and formed a biomimetic heterotypic tumor model with a core-shell structure. Next, the cell-laden beads were consociated into a functional on-chip vessel network platform to restore the tumor-tumor microenvironment (TME) interaction. Afterward, the anticancer drug paclitaxel was tested on the individual and vessel-supported tumor models. It was demonstrated that the blood vessel-associated TME conferred significant additional drug resistance in the drug screening experiment. The reported system is expected to enable the large-scale fabrication of vessel-supported heterotypic tumor models of various cellular compositions. It is believed to be promising for the large-scale fabrication of biomimetic in vitro tumor models and may be valuable for improving the efficiency of preclinical drug discovery processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wu
- Department
of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Yuwen Zhao
- Department
of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Yuyuan Zhou
- Department
of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Khayrul Islam
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Yaling Liu
- Department
of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
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12
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Schilling MP, El Khaled El Faraj R, Urrutia Gómez JE, Sonnentag SJ, Wang F, Nestler B, Orian-Rousseau V, Popova AA, Levkin PA, Reischl M. Automated high-throughput image processing as part of the screening platform for personalized oncology. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5107. [PMID: 36991084 PMCID: PMC10060403 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32144-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a devastating disease and the second leading cause of death worldwide. However, the development of resistance to current therapies is making cancer treatment more difficult. Combining the multi-omics data of individual tumors with information on their in-vitro Drug Sensitivity and Resistance Test (DSRT) can help to determine the appropriate therapy for each patient. Miniaturized high-throughput technologies, such as the droplet microarray, enable personalized oncology. We are developing a platform that incorporates DSRT profiling workflows from minute amounts of cellular material and reagents. Experimental results often rely on image-based readout techniques, where images are often constructed in grid-like structures with heterogeneous image processing targets. However, manual image analysis is time-consuming, not reproducible, and impossible for high-throughput experiments due to the amount of data generated. Therefore, automated image processing solutions are an essential component of a screening platform for personalized oncology. We present our comprehensive concept that considers assisted image annotation, algorithms for image processing of grid-like high-throughput experiments, and enhanced learning processes. In addition, the concept includes the deployment of processing pipelines. Details of the computation and implementation are presented. In particular, we outline solutions for linking automated image processing for personalized oncology with high-performance computing. Finally, we demonstrate the advantages of our proposal, using image data from heterogeneous practical experiments and challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel P Schilling
- Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
| | - Razan El Khaled El Faraj
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Joaquín Eduardo Urrutia Gómez
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Steffen J Sonnentag
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Fei Wang
- Institute for Applied Materials, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Britta Nestler
- Institute for Applied Materials, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Véronique Orian-Rousseau
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Anna A Popova
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Pavel A Levkin
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Markus Reischl
- Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
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13
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Zheng J, Hu X, Gao X, Liu Y, Zhao S, Chen L, He G, Zhang J, Wei L, Yang Y. Convenient tumor 3D spheroid arrays manufacturing via acoustic excited bubbles for in situ drug screening. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:1593-1602. [PMID: 36752157 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00973k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The quick and convenient fabrication of in vitro tumor spheroids models has been pursued for clinical drug discovery and personalized therapy. Here, uniform three-dimensional (3D) tumor spheroids are quickly constructed by acoustically excited bubble arrays in a microfluidic chip and performed drug response testing in situ. In detail, bubble oscillation excited by acoustic waves induces second radiation force, resulting in the cells rotating and aggregating into tumor spheroids, which obtain controllable sizes ranging from 30 to 300 μm. These spherical tumor models are located in microfluidic networks, where drug solutions with gradient concentrations are generated from 0 to 18 mg mL-1, so that the cell spheroids response to drugs can be monitored conveniently and efficiently. This one-step tumor spheroids manufacturing method significantly reduces the model construction time to less than 15 s and increases efficiency by eliminating additional transfer processes. These significant advantages of convenience and high-throughput manufacturing make the tumor models promising for use in tumor treatment and point-of-care diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Zheng
- School of Physics & Technology, Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-Structures of Ministry of Education, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Institute of Medicine and Physics, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China.
- Shenzhen Research Institute, Wuhan University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Xuejia Hu
- Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Xiaoqi Gao
- School of Physics & Technology, Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-Structures of Ministry of Education, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Institute of Medicine and Physics, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China.
- Shenzhen Research Institute, Wuhan University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Yantong Liu
- School of Physics & Technology, Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-Structures of Ministry of Education, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Institute of Medicine and Physics, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China.
- Shenzhen Research Institute, Wuhan University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Shukun Zhao
- School of Physics & Technology, Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-Structures of Ministry of Education, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Institute of Medicine and Physics, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China.
- Shenzhen Research Institute, Wuhan University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Longfei Chen
- School of Physics & Technology, Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-Structures of Ministry of Education, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Institute of Medicine and Physics, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China.
- Shenzhen Research Institute, Wuhan University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Guoqing He
- School of Physics & Technology, Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-Structures of Ministry of Education, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Institute of Medicine and Physics, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China.
- Shenzhen Research Institute, Wuhan University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Jingwei Zhang
- Department of Breast & Thyroid Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Lei Wei
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yi Yang
- School of Physics & Technology, Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-Structures of Ministry of Education, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Institute of Medicine and Physics, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China.
- Shenzhen Research Institute, Wuhan University, Shenzhen 518000, China
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14
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Schilling MP, Schmelzer S, Klinger L, Reischl M. KaIDA: a modular tool for assisting image annotation in deep learning. J Integr Bioinform 2022; 19:jib-2022-0018. [PMID: 36017752 PMCID: PMC9800041 DOI: 10.1515/jib-2022-0018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Deep learning models achieve high-quality results in image processing. However, to robustly optimize parameters of deep neural networks, large annotated datasets are needed. Image annotation is often performed manually by experts without a comprehensive tool for assistance which is time- consuming, burdensome, and not intuitive. Using the here presented modular Karlsruhe Image Data Annotation (KaIDA) tool, for the first time assisted annotation in various image processing tasks is possible to support users during this process. It aims to simplify annotation, increase user efficiency, enhance annotation quality, and provide additional useful annotation-related functionalities. KaIDA is available open-source at https://git.scc.kit.edu/sc1357/kaida.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel P. Schilling
- Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, D-76344Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Svenja Schmelzer
- Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, D-76344Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Lukas Klinger
- Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, D-76344Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Markus Reischl
- Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, D-76344Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
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15
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Johnson PA, Menegatti S, Chambers AC, Alibhai D, Collard TJ, Williams AC, Bayley H, Perriman AW. A rapid high throughput bioprinted colorectal cancer spheroid platform for in vitrodrug- and radiation-response. Biofabrication 2022; 15:014103. [PMID: 36321254 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ac999f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
We describe the development of a high-throughput bioprinted colorectal cancer (CRC) spheroid platform with high levels of automation, information content, and low cell number requirement. This is achieved via the formulation of a hydrogel bioink with a compressive Young's modulus that is commensurate with that of colonic tissue (1-3 kPa), which supports exponential growth of spheroids from a wide range of CRC cell lines. The resulting spheroids display tight cell-cell junctions, bioink matrix-cell interactions and necrotic hypoxic cores. By combining high content light microscopy imaging and processing with rapid multiwell plate bioprinting, dose-response profiles are generated from CRC spheroids challenged with oxaliplatin (OX) and fluorouracil (5FU), as well as radiotherapy. Bioprinted CRC spheroids are shown to exhibit high levels of chemoresistance relative to cell monolayers, and OX was found to be significantly less effective against tumour spheroids than in monolayer culture, when compared to 5FU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter A Johnson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Menegatti
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Adam C Chambers
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Dominic Alibhai
- Wolfson Bioimaging Facility, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Tracey J Collard
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Ann C Williams
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Hagan Bayley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Adam W Perriman
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
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16
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Liu Y, Bertels S, Reischl M, Peravali R, Bastmeyer M, Popova AA, Levkin PA. Droplet Microarray Based Screening Identifies Proteins for Maintaining Pluripotency of hiPSCs. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2200718. [PMID: 35799451 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202200718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are crucial for disease modeling, drug discovery, and personalized medicine. Animal-derived materials hinderapplications of hiPSCs in medical fields. Thus, novel and well-defined substrate coatings capable of maintaining hiPSC pluripotency are important for advancing biomedical applications of hiPSCs. Here a miniaturized droplet microarray (DMA) platform to investigate 11 well-defined proteins, their 55 binary and 165 ternary combinations for their ability to maintainpluripotency of hiPSCs when applied as a surface coating, is used. Using this screening approach, ten protein group coatings are identified, which promote significantly higher NANOG expression of hiPSCs in comparison with Matrigel coating. With two of the identified coatings, long-term pluripotency maintenance of hiPSCs and subsequent differentiation into three germ layers are achieved. Compared with conventional high-throughput screening (HTS) in 96-well plates, the DMA platform uses only 83 µL of protein solution (0.83 µg total protein) and only ≈2.8 × 105 cells, decreasing the amount of proteins and cells ≈860 and 25-fold, respectively. The identified proteins will be essential for research and applications using hiPSCs, while the DMA platform demonstrates great potential for miniaturized HTS of scarce cells or expensive materials such as recombinant proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanxi Liu
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Sarah Bertels
- Zoological Institute, Cell- and Neurobiology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Fritz-Haber-Weg 4, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Markus Reischl
- Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Ravindra Peravali
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Biological Information Processing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Martin Bastmeyer
- Zoological Institute, Cell- and Neurobiology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Fritz-Haber-Weg 4, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany.,Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Biological Information Processing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Anna A Popova
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Pavel A Levkin
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.,Institute of Organic Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Kaiserstraße 12, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
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17
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Zhang P, Li X, Chen JY, Abate A. Controlled fabrication of functional liver spheroids with microfluidic flow cytometric printing. Biofabrication 2022; 14. [PMID: 35917810 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ac8622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Multicellular liver spheroids are 3D culture models useful in the development of therapies for liver fibrosis. While these models can recapitulate fibrotic disease, current methods for generating them via random aggregation are uncontrolled, yielding spheroids of variable size, function, and utility. Here, we report fabrication of precision liver spheroids with microfluidic flow cytometric printing. Our approach fabricates spheroids cell-by-cell, yielding structures with exact numbers of different cell types. Because spheroid function depends on composition, our precision spheroids have superior functional uniformity, allowing more accurate and statistically significant screens compared to randomly generated spheroids. The approach produces thousands of spheroids per hour, and thus affords a scalable platform by which to manufacture single-cell precision spheroids for disease modeling and high throughput drug testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Zhang
- University of California San Francisco, 1700 4th St, San Francisco, California, 94143, UNITED STATES
| | - Xiangpeng Li
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, 1700 4th St, San Francisco, 94143, UNITED STATES
| | - Jennifer Y Chen
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, 555 Mission Bay Blvd South, San Francisco, 94143, UNITED STATES
| | - Adam Abate
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, 1700 4th St, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 94158, UNITED STATES
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18
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Li C, He W, Wang N, Xi Z, Deng R, Liu X, Kang R, Xie L, Liu X. Application of Microfluidics in Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:907232. [PMID: 35646880 PMCID: PMC9133555 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.907232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor metastasis is one of the main causes of cancer incidence and death worldwide. In the process of tumor metastasis, the isolation and analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) plays a crucial role in the early diagnosis and prognosis of cancer patients. Due to the rarity and inherent heterogeneity of CTCs, there is an urgent need for reliable CTCs separation and detection methods in order to obtain valuable information on tumor metastasis and progression from CTCs. Microfluidic technology is increasingly used in various studies of CTCs separation, identification and characterization because of its unique advantages, such as low cost, simple operation, less reagent consumption, miniaturization of the system, rapid detection and accurate control. This paper reviews the research progress of microfluidic technology in CTCs separation and detection in recent years, as well as the potential clinical application of CTCs, looks forward to the application prospect of microfluidic technology in the treatment of tumor metastasis, and briefly discusses the development prospect of microfluidic biosensor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Li
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Artificial Intelligence and Information Technology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei He
- Department of Clinical Medical Engineering, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Nan Wang
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Artificial Intelligence and Information Technology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhipeng Xi
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Artificial Intelligence and Information Technology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Rongrong Deng
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Artificial Intelligence and Information Technology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiyu Liu
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Artificial Intelligence and Information Technology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Ran Kang
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Artificial Intelligence and Information Technology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Department of Orthopedics, Nanjing Lishui Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Lin Xie
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Artificial Intelligence and Information Technology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xin Liu
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Artificial Intelligence and Information Technology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
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19
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Wang Y, Jeon H. 3D cell cultures toward quantitative high-throughput drug screening. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2022; 43:569-581. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2022.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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20
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21
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Chakraborty S, Luchena C, Elton JJ, Schilling MP, Reischl M, Roux M, Levkin PA, Popova AA. "Cells-to-cDNA on Chip": Phenotypic Assessment and Gene Expression Analysis from Live Cells in Nanoliter Volumes Using Droplet Microarrays. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2102493. [PMID: 35285171 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202102493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
In vitro cell-based experiments are particularly important in fundamental biological research. Microscopy-based readouts to identify cellular changes in response to various stimuli are a popular choice, but gene expression analysis is essential to delineate the underlying molecular dynamics in cells. However, cell-based experiments often suffer from interexperimental variation, especially while using different readout methods. Therefore, establishment of platforms that allow for cell screening, along with parallel investigations of morphological features, as well as gene expression levels, is crucial. The droplet microarray (DMA) platform enables cell screening in hundreds of nanoliter droplets. In this study, a "Cells-to-cDNA on Chip" method is developed enabling on-chip mRNA isolation from live cells and conversion to cDNA in individual droplets of 200 nL. This novel method works efficiently to obtain cDNA from different cell numbers, down to single cell per droplet. This is the first established miniaturized on-chip strategy that enables the entire course of cell screening, phenotypic microscopy-based assessments along with mRNA isolation and its conversion to cDNA for gene expression analysis by real-time PCR on an open DMA platform. The principle demonstrated in this study sets a beginning for myriad of possible applications to obtain detailed information about the molecular dynamics in cultured cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shraddha Chakraborty
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems‐Functional Molecular Systems Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Hermann‐von‐Helmholtz‐Platz 1 Eggenstein‐Leopoldshafen 76344 Germany
| | - Charlotte Luchena
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems‐Functional Molecular Systems Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Hermann‐von‐Helmholtz‐Platz 1 Eggenstein‐Leopoldshafen 76344 Germany
| | - Jonathan J. Elton
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems‐Functional Molecular Systems Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Hermann‐von‐Helmholtz‐Platz 1 Eggenstein‐Leopoldshafen 76344 Germany
| | - Marcel P. Schilling
- Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Hermann‐von‐Helmholtz‐Platz 1 Eggenstein‐Leopoldshafen 76344 Germany
| | - Markus Reischl
- Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Hermann‐von‐Helmholtz‐Platz 1 Eggenstein‐Leopoldshafen 76344 Germany
| | - Margaux Roux
- Cellenion SASU Bioserra 2, 60 avenue Rockefeller Lyon 69008 France
| | - Pavel A. Levkin
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems‐Functional Molecular Systems Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Hermann‐von‐Helmholtz‐Platz 1 Eggenstein‐Leopoldshafen 76344 Germany
- Institute of Organic Chemistry Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Fritz‐Haber Weg 6 Karlsruhe 76131 Germany
| | - Anna A. Popova
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems‐Functional Molecular Systems Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Hermann‐von‐Helmholtz‐Platz 1 Eggenstein‐Leopoldshafen 76344 Germany
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22
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Pai RR, Muthusamy S, Velayudhan S, Sabareeswaran A, P.R. AK. High‐throughput Production of Liver Parenchymal Microtissues and Enrichment of Organ‐specific Functions in Gelatin Methacrylamide Microenvironment. Biotechnol Bioeng 2021; 119:1018-1032. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.28010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Roopesh R. Pai
- Division of Tissue Culture, Department of Applied Biology, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology Thiruvananthapuram Kerala India 695 012
| | - Senthilkumar Muthusamy
- Division of Tissue Culture, Department of Applied Biology, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology Thiruvananthapuram Kerala India 695 012
| | - Shiny Velayudhan
- Division of Dental Products, Department of Biomaterial Science and Technology, Biomedical Technology Wing Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology Thiruvananthapuram Kerala India 695 012
| | - A. Sabareeswaran
- tmeDivision of Experimental Pathology, Deparnt of Applied Biology, Biomedical Technology Wing Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology Thiruvananthapuram Kerala India 695 012
| | - Anil Kumar P.R.
- Division of Tissue Culture, Department of Applied Biology, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology Thiruvananthapuram Kerala India 695 012
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23
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Wu Y, Zhou Y, Qin X, Liu Y. From cell spheroids to vascularized cancer organoids: Microfluidic tumor-on-a-chip models for preclinical drug evaluations. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2021; 15:061503. [PMID: 34804315 PMCID: PMC8589468 DOI: 10.1063/5.0062697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Chemotherapy is one of the most effective cancer treatments. Starting from the discovery of new molecular entities, it usually takes about 10 years and 2 billion U.S. dollars to bring an effective anti-cancer drug from the benchtop to patients. Due to the physiological differences between animal models and humans, more than 90% of drug candidates failed in phase I clinical trials. Thus, a more efficient drug screening system to identify feasible compounds and pre-exclude less promising drug candidates is strongly desired. For their capability to accurately construct in vitro tumor models derived from human cells to reproduce pathological and physiological processes, microfluidic tumor chips are reliable platforms for preclinical drug screening, personalized medicine, and fundamental oncology research. This review summarizes the recent progress of the microfluidic tumor chip and highlights tumor vascularization strategies. In addition, promising imaging modalities for enhancing data acquisition and machine learning-based image analysis methods to accurately quantify the dynamics of tumor spheroids are introduced. It is believed that the microfluidic tumor chip will serve as a high-throughput, biomimetic, and multi-sensor integrated system for efficient preclinical drug evaluation in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wu
- Department of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, USA
| | - Yuyuan Zhou
- Department of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, USA
| | - Xiaochen Qin
- Department of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, USA
| | - Yaling Liu
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:
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24
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Miniaturized droplet microarray platform enables maintenance of human induced pluripotent stem cell pluripotency. Mater Today Bio 2021; 12:100153. [PMID: 34765963 PMCID: PMC8569722 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2021.100153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The capacity of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) for indefinite self-renewal warrants their application in disease modeling, drug discovery, toxicity assays and efficacy screening. However, their poor proliferation ability, inability to adhere to surfaces without Matrigel coating and tendency to spontaneously differentiate in vitro hinder the application of hiPSCs in these fields. Here we study the ability to culture hiPSCs inside 200 nL droplets on the droplet microarray (DMA) platform. We demonstrate that (1) hiPSCs can attach to the Matrigel (MG)-free surface of DMA and show good viability after 24 h culture; (2) hiPSC do not spontaneously differentiate when cultured on the MG-free surface of DMAs; (3) culturing of hiPSCs in 200 nL as compared to 2 mL culture leads to higher expression of the Nanog pluripotency marker. Overall, the results demonstrate the possibility to culture undifferentiated hiPSCs in 200 nL droplets on DMA, thereby opening the possibility for high-throughput screenings of hiPSCs with various factors without compromising the results through the involvement of animal-derived materials, such as Matrigel.
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25
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Sun L, Guo J, Chen H, Zhang D, Shang L, Zhang B, Zhao Y. Tailoring Materials with Specific Wettability in Biomedical Engineering. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:e2100126. [PMID: 34369090 PMCID: PMC8498887 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202100126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
As a fundamental feature of solid surfaces, wettability is playing an increasingly important role in our daily life. Benefitting from the inspiration of biological paradigms and the development in manufacturing technology, numerous wettability materials with elaborately designed surface topology and chemical compositions have been fabricated. Based on these advances, wettability materials have found broad technological implications in various fields ranging from academy, industry, agriculture to biomedical engineering. Among them, the practical applications of wettability materials in biomedical-related fields are receiving remarkable researches during the past decades because of the increasing attention to healthcare. In this review, the research progress of materials with specific wettability is discussed. After briefly introducing the underlying mechanisms, the fabrication strategies of artificial materials with specific wettability are described. The emphasis is put on the application progress of wettability biomaterials in biomedical engineering. The prospects for the future trend of wettability materials are also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyu Sun
- Institute of Translational MedicineDepartment of RadiologyThe Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical SchoolNanjing210002China
- State Key Laboratory of BioelectronicsSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
| | - Jiahui Guo
- State Key Laboratory of BioelectronicsSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
| | - Hanxu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of BioelectronicsSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
| | - Dagan Zhang
- Institute of Translational MedicineDepartment of RadiologyThe Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical SchoolNanjing210002China
| | - Luoran Shang
- Zhongshan‐Xuhui Hospitalthe Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical EpigeneticsInstitutes of Biomedical SciencesFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
| | - Bing Zhang
- Institute of Translational MedicineDepartment of RadiologyThe Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical SchoolNanjing210002China
| | - Yuanjin Zhao
- Institute of Translational MedicineDepartment of RadiologyThe Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical SchoolNanjing210002China
- State Key Laboratory of BioelectronicsSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
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26
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Park J, Park S, Hyun KA, Jung HI. Microfluidic recapitulation of circulating tumor cell-neutrophil clusters via double spiral channel-induced deterministic encapsulation. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:3483-3497. [PMID: 34309611 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00433f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Circulating tumor cell (CTC)-neutrophil clusters are highly potent precursors of cancer metastasis. However, their rarity in patients' blood has restricted research thus far, and moreover, studies on in vitro methods for mimicking cell clusters have generally neglected in vivo conditions. Here, we introduce an inertial-force-assisted droplet microfluidic chip that allows the recapitulation of CTC-neutrophil clusters in terms of physical as well as biochemical features. The deterministic encapsulation of cells via double spiral channels facilitates the pairing of neutrophils and cancer cells with ratios of interest (from 1 : 1 to 1 : 3). The encapsulated cells are spontaneously associated to form clusters, achieving the physical emulation of CTC-neutrophil clusters. Furthermore, the molecular signatures of CTC-neutrophil clusters (e.g., their E-cadherin, VCAM-1, and mRNA expressions) were well defined. Our novel microfluidic platform for exploring CTC-neutrophil clusters can therefore play a promising role in cancer-metastasis studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhyun Park
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sunyoung Park
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.
| | - Kyung A Hyun
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hyo-Il Jung
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.
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27
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Sargenti A, Musmeci F, Cavallo C, Mazzeschi M, Bonetti S, Pasqua S, Bacchi F, Filardo G, Gazzola D, Lauriola M, Santi S. A new method for the study of biophysical and morphological parameters in 3D cell cultures: Evaluation in LoVo spheroids treated with crizotinib. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0252907. [PMID: 34101765 PMCID: PMC8186796 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) culture systems like tumor spheroids represent useful in vitro models for drug screening and more broadly for cancer biology research, but the generation of uniform populations of spheroids remains challenging. The possibility to properly characterize spheroid properties would increase the reliability of these models. To address this issue different analysis were combined: i) a new device and relative analytical method for the accurate, simultaneous, and rapid measurement of mass density, weight, and size of spheroids, ii) confocal imaging, and iii) protein quantification, in a clinically relevant 3D model. The LoVo colon cancer cell line forming spheroids, treated with crizotinib (CZB) an ATP-competitive small-molecule inhibitor of the receptor tyrosine kinases, was employed to study and assess the correlation between biophysical and morphological parameters in both live and fixed cells. The new fluidic-based measurements allowed a robust phenotypical characterization of the spheroids structure, offering insights on the spheroids bulk and an accurate measurement of the tumor density. This analysis helps overcome the technical limits of the imaging that hardly penetrates the thickness of 3D structures. Accordingly, we were able to document that CZB treatment has an impact on mass density, which represents a key marker characterizing cancer cell treatment. Spheroid culture is the ultimate technology in drug discovery and the adoption of such precise measurement of the tumor characteristics can represent a key step forward for the accurate testing of treatment’s potential in 3D in vitro models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Carola Cavallo
- RAMSES Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Martina Mazzeschi
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Giuseppe Filardo
- Applied and Translational Research Center, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Mattia Lauriola
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Spartaco Santi
- Institute of Molecular Genetics “Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza”, Unit of Bologna, CNR, Bologna, Italy
- IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
- * E-mail:
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28
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Eilenberger C, Rothbauer M, Selinger F, Gerhartl A, Jordan C, Harasek M, Schädl B, Grillari J, Weghuber J, Neuhaus W, Küpcü S, Ertl P. A Microfluidic Multisize Spheroid Array for Multiparametric Screening of Anticancer Drugs and Blood-Brain Barrier Transport Properties. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:e2004856. [PMID: 34105271 PMCID: PMC8188192 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202004856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Physiological-relevant in vitro tissue models with their promise of better predictability have the potential to improve drug screening outcomes in preclinical studies. Despite the advances of spheroid models in pharmaceutical screening applications, variations in spheroid size and consequential altered cell responses often lead to nonreproducible and unpredictable results. Here, a microfluidic multisize spheroid array is established and characterized using liver, lung, colon, and skin cells as well as a triple-culture model of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to assess the effects of spheroid size on (a) anticancer drug toxicity and (b) compound penetration across an advanced BBB model. The reproducible on-chip generation of 360 spheroids of five dimensions on a well-plate format using an integrated microlens technology is demonstrated. While spheroid size-related IC50 values vary up to 160% using the anticancer drugs cisplatin (CIS) or doxorubicin (DOX), reduced CIS:DOX drug dose combinations eliminate all lung microtumors independent of their sizes. A further application includes optimizing cell seeding ratios and size-dependent compound uptake studies in a perfused BBB model. Generally, smaller BBB-spheroids reveal an 80% higher compound penetration than larger spheroids while verifying the BBB opening effect of mannitol and a spheroid size-related modulation on paracellular transport properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Eilenberger
- Faculty of Technical ChemistryVienna University of TechnologyGetreidemarkt 9Vienna1060Austria
| | - Mario Rothbauer
- Faculty of Technical ChemistryVienna University of TechnologyGetreidemarkt 9Vienna1060Austria
- Karl Chiari Lab for Orthopaedic BiologyDepartment of Orthopedics and Trauma SurgeryMedical University of ViennaWähringer Gürtel 18‐20Vienna1090Austria
| | - Florian Selinger
- Faculty of Technical ChemistryVienna University of TechnologyGetreidemarkt 9Vienna1060Austria
| | - Anna Gerhartl
- AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbHCenter Health and BioresourcesCompetence Unit Molecular DiagnosticsGiefinggasse 4Vienna1210Austria
| | - Christian Jordan
- Faculty of Technical ChemistryVienna University of TechnologyGetreidemarkt 9Vienna1060Austria
| | - Michael Harasek
- Faculty of Technical ChemistryVienna University of TechnologyGetreidemarkt 9Vienna1060Austria
| | - Barbara Schädl
- Ludwig‐Boltzmann‐Institute for Experimental and Clinical TraumatologyDonaueschingenstraße 13Vienna1200Austria
| | - Johannes Grillari
- Ludwig‐Boltzmann‐Institute for Experimental and Clinical TraumatologyDonaueschingenstraße 13Vienna1200Austria
- Institute for Molecular BiotechnologyDepartment of BiotechnologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesMuthgasse 18Vienna1190Austria
| | - Julian Weghuber
- School of EngineeringUniversity of Applied Sciences Upper AustriaStelzhamerstraße 23Wels4600Austria
- FFoQSI GmbH‐Austrian Competence Centre for Feed and Food QualitySafety and InnovationTechnopark 1CTulln3430Austria
| | - Winfried Neuhaus
- AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbHCenter Health and BioresourcesCompetence Unit Molecular DiagnosticsGiefinggasse 4Vienna1210Austria
| | - Seta Küpcü
- Institute of Synthetic BioarchitecturesDepartment of NanobiotechnologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesVienna, Muthgasse 11Vienna1190Austria
| | - Peter Ertl
- Faculty of Technical ChemistryVienna University of TechnologyGetreidemarkt 9Vienna1060Austria
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29
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Xia Y, Chen H, Li J, Hu H, Qian Q, He RX, Ding Z, Guo SS. Acoustic Droplet-Assisted Superhydrophilic-Superhydrophobic Microarray Platform for High-Throughput Screening of Patient-Derived Tumor Spheroids. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:23489-23501. [PMID: 33983701 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c06655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Cell-based high-throughput screening is a key step in the current disease-based research, drug development, and precision medicine. However, it is challenging to establish a rapid culture and screening platform for rare cells (patient-derived) due to the obvious differences between the traditional 2D cell model and the tumor microenvironment, as well as the lack of a low-consumption screening platform for low numbers of cells. Here, we developed an acoustic drop-assisted superhydrophilic-superhydrophobic microarray platform for the rapid culture and screening of a few cells. By employing hydrophilic and hydrophobic microarrays, we can automatically distribute the cell suspension into uniform droplets, and these cells can spontaneously form compact 3D cell spheroids within 36 h (similar to the microenvironment of tumors in vivo). By using the acoustic droplet ejection device, we can accurately inject a drug solution with a volume of ∼pL to ∼nL into the droplet, and the whole process can be completed within 20 ms (one print). By using three different cell lines (Caco-2, MCF-7, and HeLa) to optimize the platform, the culture and screening of five patients' colon cancer were subsequently realized. Using three conventional chemotherapeutics (5-fluorouracil, cetuximab, and panitumumab) of various concentrations, the best treatment was screened out and compared with the actual treatment effect of the patients, and the results were extremely similar. As a proof-of-concept application, we have proved that our platform can quickly cultivate patient samples and effectively screen the best treatment methods, highlighting its wide application in precision medicine, basic tumor research, and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Xia
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro/Nano-Structures, Ministry of Education School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Hui Chen
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro/Nano-Structures, Ministry of Education School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Juan Li
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro/Nano-Structures, Ministry of Education School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Hang Hu
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Qun Qian
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Rong-Xiang He
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Research & Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Chemical Materials and Devices of Ministry of Education, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Zhao Ding
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Shi-Shang Guo
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro/Nano-Structures, Ministry of Education School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
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Droplet microarrays for cell culture: effect of surface properties and nanoliter culture volume on global transcriptomic landscape. Mater Today Bio 2021; 11:100112. [PMID: 34124640 PMCID: PMC8175407 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2021.100112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of novel chemically developed and physically defined surfaces and environments for cell culture and screening is important for various biological applications. The Droplet microarray (DMA) platform based on hydrophilic-superhydrophobic patterning enables high-throughput cellular screening in nanoliter volumes and on various biocompatible surfaces. Here we performed phenotypic and transcriptomic analysis of HeLa-CCL2 cells cultured on DMA, with a goal to analyze cellular response on different surfaces and culture volumes down to 3 nL, compared with conventional cell culture platforms. Our results indicate that cells cultured on four tested substrates: nanostructured nonpolymer, rough and smooth variants of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) polymer and poly(thioether) dendrimer are compatible with cells grown in Petri dish. Cells cultured on nanostructured nonpolymer coating exhibited the closet transcriptomic resemblance to that of cells grown in Petri dish. Analysis of cells cultured in 100, 9, and 3 nL media droplets on DMA indicated that all but cells grown in 3 nL volumes had unperturbed viability with minimal alterations in the transcriptome compared with 96-well plate. Our findings demonstrate the applicability of DMA for cell-based assays and highlight the possibility of establishing regular cell culture on various biomaterial-coated substrates and in nanoliter volumes, along with routinely used cell culture platforms.
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31
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Yang Y, Xu LP, Zhang X, Wang S. Bioinspired wettable-nonwettable micropatterns for emerging applications. J Mater Chem B 2021; 8:8101-8115. [PMID: 32785360 DOI: 10.1039/d0tb01382j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic surfaces are prevalent in nature and have received tremendous attention due to their importance in both fundamental research and practical applications. With the high interdisciplinary research and great development of microfabrication techniques, artificial wettable-nonwettable micropatterns inspired by the water-collection behavior of desert beetles have been successfully fabricated. A combination of the two extreme states of superhydrophilicity and superhydrophobicity on the same surface precisely, wettable-nonwettable micropatterns possess unique functionalities, such as controllable superwetting, anisotropic wetting, oriented adhesion, and other properties. In this review, we briefly describe the methods for fabricating wettable-nonwettable patterns, including self-assembly, electrodeposition, inkjet printing, and photolithography. We also highlight some of the emerging applications such as water collection, controllable bioadhesion, cell arrays, microreactors, printing techniques, and biosensors combined with various detection methods. Finally, the current challenges and prospects of this renascent and rapidly developing field are proposed and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuemeng Yang
- Research Center for Bioengineering and Sensing Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Li-Ping Xu
- Research Center for Bioengineering and Sensing Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Xueji Zhang
- Research Center for Bioengineering and Sensing Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China. and School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Shutao Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
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32
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RamalloGuevara C, Paulssen D, Popova AA, Hopf C, Levkin PA. Fast Nanoliter-Scale Cell Assays Using Droplet Microarray-Mass Spectrometry Imaging. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2021; 5:e2000279. [PMID: 33729695 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202000279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In pharmaceutical research and development, cell-based assays are primarily used with readout that rely on fluorescence-based and other label-dependent techniques for analysis of different cellular processes. Superhydrophobic-hydrophilic droplet microarrays (DMA) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) have recently emerged as key technologies for miniaturized high-throughput cell assays and for label-free molecular high-content drug profiling, respectively. Here, nanoliter-scale cell assays are integrated on DMAs with MALDI-MS imaging (MALDI-MSI) approaches to a droplet microarray-mass spectrometry imaging (DMA-MSI) platform. Using A549 lung cancer cells, concentration-response profiling of a pharmaceutical compound, the fatty acid synthase inhibitor GSK2194069, are demonstrated. Direct cell culture on DMAs enables combination of microscopy and high speed, high molecular content analysis using MALDI-MSI. Miniaturization of array spots down to 0.5 mm confining 40 nL droplets allows for MALDI imaging analysis of as few as ten cells per spot. Partial automation ensures a fast sample preparation workflow. Taken together, the integrated DMA-MSI platform that combines MALDI-MSI, as a label-free analytical readout, with the miniaturized droplet microarray platform is a valuable complement to high throughput cell-based assays technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina RamalloGuevara
- Center for Mass Spectrometry and Optical Spectroscopy (CeMOS), Mannheim University of Applied Sciences, Paul-Wittsack Str. 10, Mannheim, 68163, Germany
| | - Dorothea Paulssen
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, 76344, Germany
| | - Anna A Popova
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, 76344, Germany
| | - Carsten Hopf
- Center for Mass Spectrometry and Optical Spectroscopy (CeMOS), Mannheim University of Applied Sciences, Paul-Wittsack Str. 10, Mannheim, 68163, Germany
| | - Pavel A Levkin
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, 76344, Germany
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33
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The Role of Biomimetic Hypoxia on Cancer Cell Behaviour in 3D Models: A Systematic Review. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13061334. [PMID: 33809554 PMCID: PMC7999912 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13061334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The advancements in 3D tumour models provide in vitro test-beds to study cancer growth, metastasis and response to therapy. We conducted this systematic review on existing experimental studies in order to identify and summarize key biomimetic tumour microenvironmental features which affect aspects of cancer biology. The review noted the significance of in vitro hypoxia and 3D tumour models on epithelial to mesenchymal transition, drug resistance, invasion and migration of cancer cells. We highlight the importance of various experimental parameters used in these studies and their subsequent effects on cancer cell behaviour. Abstract The development of biomimetic, human tissue models is recognized as being an important step for transitioning in vitro research findings to the native in vivo response. Oftentimes, 2D models lack the necessary complexity to truly recapitulate cellular responses. The introduction of physiological features into 3D models informs us of how each component feature alters specific cellular response. We conducted a systematic review of research papers where the focus was the introduction of key biomimetic features into in vitro models of cancer, including 3D culture and hypoxia. We analysed outcomes from these and compiled our findings into distinct groupings to ascertain which biomimetic parameters correlated with specific responses. We found a number of biomimetic features which primed cancer cells to respond in a manner which matched in vivo response.
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Amirghasemi F, Adjei-Sowah E, Pockaj BA, Nikkhah M. Microengineered 3D Tumor Models for Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery in Female-Related Cancers. Ann Biomed Eng 2021; 49:1943-1972. [PMID: 33403451 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-020-02704-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The burden of cancer continues to increase in society and negatively impacts the lives of numerous patients. Due to the high cost of current treatment strategies, there is a crucial unmet need to develop inexpensive preclinical platforms to accelerate the process of anti-cancer drug discovery to improve outcomes in cancer patients, most especially in female patients. Many current methods employ expensive animal models which not only present ethical concerns but also do not often accurately predict human physiology and the outcomes of anti-cancer drug responsiveness. Conventional treatment approaches for cancer generally include systemic therapy after a surgical procedure. Although this treatment technique is effective, the outcome is not always positive due to various complex factors such as intratumor heterogeneity and confounding factors within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Patients who develop metastatic disease still have poor prognosis. To that end, recent efforts have attempted to use 3D microengineered platforms to enhance the predictive power and efficacy of anti-cancer drug screening, ultimately to develop personalized therapies. Fascinating features of microengineered assays, such as microfluidics, have led to the advancement in the development of the tumor-on-chip technology platforms, which have shown tremendous potential for meaningful and physiologically relevant anti-cancer drug discovery and screening. Three dimensional microscale models provide unprecedented ability to unveil the biological complexities of cancer and shed light into the mechanism of anti-cancer drug resistance in a timely and resource efficient manner. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the development of microengineered tumor models for anti-cancer drug discovery and screening in female-related cancers. We specifically focus on female-related cancers to draw attention to the various approaches being taken to improve the survival rate of women diagnosed with cancers caused by sex disparities. We also briefly discuss other cancer types like colon adenocarcinomas and glioblastoma due to their high rate of occurrence in females, as well as the high likelihood of sex-biased mutations which complicate current treatment strategies for women. We highlight recent advances in the development of 3D microscale platforms including 3D tumor spheroids, microfluidic platforms as well as bioprinted models, and discuss how they have been utilized to address major challenges in the process of drug discovery, such as chemoresistance, intratumor heterogeneity, drug toxicity, etc. We also present the potential of these platform technologies for use in high-throughput drug screening approaches as a replacements of conventional assays. Within each section, we will provide our perspectives on advantages of the discussed platform technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farbod Amirghasemi
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-9709, USA
| | - Emmanuela Adjei-Sowah
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-9709, USA
| | - Barbara A Pockaj
- Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Mehdi Nikkhah
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-9709, USA. .,Biodesign Virginia G. Piper Center for Personalized Diagnostics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
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Cui H, Wang X, Wesslowski J, Tronser T, Rosenbauer J, Schug A, Davidson G, Popova AA, Levkin PA. Assembly of Multi-Spheroid Cellular Architectures by Programmable Droplet Merging. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2021; 33:e2006434. [PMID: 33325613 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202006434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Artificial multicellular systems are gaining importance in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Reconstruction of complex tissue architectures in vitro is nevertheless challenging, and methods permitting controllable and high-throughput fabrication of complex multicellular architectures are needed. Here, a facile and high-throughput method is developed based on a tunable droplet-fusion technique, allowing programmed assembly of multiple cell spheroids into complex multicellular architectures. The droplet-fusion technique allows for construction of various multicellular architectures (double-spheroids, multi-spheroids, hetero-spheroids) in a miniaturized high-density array format. As an example of application, the propagation of Wnt signaling is investigated within hetero-spheroids formed from two fused Wnt-releasing and Wnt-reporter cell spheroids. The developed method provides an approach for miniaturized, high-throughput construction of complex 3D multicellular architectures and can be applied for studying various biological processes including cell signaling, cancer invasion, embryogenesis, and neural development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haijun Cui
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, 76344, Germany
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Zhongguancun East Road 29, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
| | - Xianxian Wang
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, 76344, Germany
| | - Janine Wesslowski
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, 76344, Germany
| | - Tina Tronser
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, 76344, Germany
| | - Jakob Rosenbauer
- John von Neumann Institute for Computing, Jülich Supercomputer Centre, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, Jülich, 52428, Germany
| | - Alexander Schug
- John von Neumann Institute for Computing, Jülich Supercomputer Centre, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, Jülich, 52428, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, Essen, 45141, Germany
| | - Gary Davidson
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, 76344, Germany
| | - Anna A Popova
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, 76344, Germany
| | - Pavel A Levkin
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, 76344, Germany
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Fritz-Haber Weg 6, Karlsruhe, 76131, Germany
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36
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Abdollahi S. Extracellular vesicles from organoids and 3D culture systems. Biotechnol Bioeng 2020; 118:1029-1049. [PMID: 33085083 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
When discovered, extracellular vesicles (EVs) such as exosomes were thought of as junk carriers and a means by which the cell disposed of its waste material. Over the years, the role of EVs in cell communication has become apparent with the discovery that the nano-scale vesicles also transport RNA, DNA, and other bioactive components to and from the cells. These findings were originally made in EVs from body fluids of organisms and from in vitro two-dimensional (2D) cell culture models. Recently, organoids and other 3D multicellular in vitro models are being used to study EVs in the context of both physiologic and pathological states. However, standard, reproducible methods are lacking for EV analysis using these models. As a step toward understanding the implications of these platforms, this review provides a comprehensive picture of the progress using 3D in vitro culture models for EV analysis. Translational efforts and regulatory considerations for EV therapeutics are also briefly overviewed to understand what is needed for scale-up and, ultimately, commercialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Abdollahi
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Lei W, Demir K, Overhage J, Grunze M, Schwartz T, Levkin PA. Droplet-Microarray: Miniaturized Platform for High-Throughput Screening of Antimicrobial Compounds. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 4:e2000073. [PMID: 32875737 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202000073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Currently, there are no time-saving and cost-effective high-throughput screening methods for the evaluation of bacterial drug-resistance. In this study, a droplet microarray (DMA) system is established as a miniaturized platform for high-throughput screening of antibacterial compounds using the emerging, opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) as a target. Based on the differences in wettability of DMA slides, a rapid method for generating microarrays of nanoliter-sized droplets containing bacteria is developed. The bacterial growth in droplets is evaluated using fluorescence. The new method enables immediate screening with libraries of antibiotics. A novel simple colorimetric readout method compatible with the nanoliter size of the droplets is established. Furthermore, the drug-resistance of P. aeruginosa 49, a multi-resistant strain from an environmental isolate, is investigated. This study demonstrates the potential of the DMA platform for the rapid formation of microarrays of bacteria for high-throughput drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxi Lei
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems-Functional Molecular Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz Platz 1, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, 76344, Germany
| | - Konstantin Demir
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems-Functional Molecular Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz Platz 1, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, 76344, Germany
| | - Joerg Overhage
- Department of Health Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Michael Grunze
- Department of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstraße 29, Heidelberg, 69120, Germany
| | - Thomas Schwartz
- Institute of Functional Interfaces, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz Platz 1, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, 76344, Germany
| | - Pavel A Levkin
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems-Functional Molecular Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz Platz 1, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, 76344, Germany.,Institute of Organic Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, 76131, Germany
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Kwon S, Lee D, Gopal S, Ku A, Moon H, Dordick JS. Three‐dimensional in vitro cell culture devices using patient‐derived cells for high‐throughput screening of drug combinations. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/mds3.10067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Seok‐Joon Kwon
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy NY USA
| | - Dongwoo Lee
- Departments of Biomedical Engineering Konyang University Daejeon Korea
| | - Sneha Gopal
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy NY USA
| | - Ashlyn Ku
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy NY USA
| | - Hosang Moon
- MBD (Medical & Bio Decision) Co., Ltd. Suwon‐si Korea
| | - Jonathan S. Dordick
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy NY USA
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39
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Liu Y, Tronser T, Peravali R, Reischl M, Levkin PA. High‐Throughput Screening of Cell Transfection Enhancers Using Miniaturized Droplet Microarrays. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 4:e1900257. [DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201900257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yanxi Liu
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics (ITG)Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Hermann‐von Helmholtz‐Platz 1 Eggenstein‐Leopoldshafen 76344 Germany
| | - Tina Tronser
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics (ITG)Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Hermann‐von Helmholtz‐Platz 1 Eggenstein‐Leopoldshafen 76344 Germany
| | - Ravindra Peravali
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics (ITG)Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Hermann‐von Helmholtz‐Platz 1 Eggenstein‐Leopoldshafen 76344 Germany
| | - Markus Reischl
- Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics (IAI)Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Hermann‐von Helmholtz‐Platz 1 Eggenstein‐Leopoldshafen 76344 Germany
| | - Pavel A. Levkin
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics (ITG)Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Hermann‐von Helmholtz‐Platz 1 Eggenstein‐Leopoldshafen 76344 Germany
- Institute of Organic ChemistryKarlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Fritz‐Haber‐Weg 6 Karlsruhe 76131 Germany
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40
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Popova AA, Levkin PA. Precision Medicine in Oncology: In Vitro Drug Sensitivity and Resistance Test (DSRT) for Selection of Personalized Anticancer Therapy. ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/adtp.201900100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna A. Popova
- Karlsruhe Institute of TechnologyInstitute of Toxicology and Genetics Hermann‐von‐Helmholtz‐Platz 1 76344 Eggenstein‐Leopoldshafen Germany
| | - Pavel A. Levkin
- Karlsruhe Institute of TechnologyInstitute of Toxicology and Genetics Hermann‐von‐Helmholtz‐Platz 1 76344 Eggenstein‐Leopoldshafen Germany
- Karlsruhe Institute of TechnologyInstitute of Organic Chemistry Fritz‐Haber Weg 6 76131 Karlsruhe Germany
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41
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Lee JM, Choi JW, Ahrberg CD, Choi HW, Ha JH, Mun SG, Mo SJ, Chung BG. Generation of tumor spheroids using a droplet-based microfluidic device for photothermal therapy. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2020; 6:52. [PMID: 34567663 PMCID: PMC8433304 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-020-0167-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Despite their simplicity, monolayer cell cultures are not able to accurately predict drug behavior in vivo due to their inability to accurately mimic cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. In contrast, cell spheroids are able to reproduce these interactions and thus would be a viable tool for testing drug behavior. However, the generation of homogenous and reproducible cell spheroids on a large scale is a labor intensive and slow process compared to monolayer cell cultures. Here, we present a droplet-based microfluidic device for the automated, large-scale generation of homogenous cell spheroids in a uniform manner. Using the microfluidic system, the size of the spheroids can be tuned to between 100 and 130 μm with generation frequencies of 70 Hz. We demonstrated the photothermal therapy (PTT) application of brain tumor spheroids generated by the microfluidic device using a reduced graphene oxide-branched polyethyleneimine-polyethylene glycol (rGO-BPEI-PEG) nanocomposite as the PTT agent. Furthermore, we generated uniformly sized neural stem cell (NSC)-derived neurospheres in the droplet-based microfluidic device. We also confirmed that the neurites were regulated by neurotoxins. Therefore, this droplet-based microfluidic device could be a powerful tool for photothermal therapy and drug screening applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong Min Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea
- Division of Chemical Industry, Yeungnam University College, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Wook Choi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea
| | | | | | - Jang Ho Ha
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seok Gyu Mun
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sung Joon Mo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Bong Geun Chung
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea
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42
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Sousa AR, Martins-Cruz C, Oliveira MB, Mano JF. One-Step Rapid Fabrication of Cell-Only Living Fibers. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2020; 32:e1906305. [PMID: 31769556 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201906305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Cellular aggregates are used as relevant regenerative building blocks, tissue models, and cell delivery platforms. Biomaterial-free structures are often assembled either as 2D cell sheets or spherical microaggregates, both incompatible with free-form deposition, and dependent on challenging processes for macroscale 3D upscaling. The continuous and elongated nature of fiber-shaped materials enables their deposition in unrestricted multiple directions. Cellular fiber fabrication has often required exogenously provided support proteins and/or the use of biomaterial-based sacrificial templates. Here, the rapid (<24 h) assembly of fiberoids is reported: living centimeter-long scaffold-free fibers of cells produced in the absence of exogenous materials or supplements. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell fiberoids can be easily modulated into complex multidimensional geometries and show tissue-invasive properties while keeping the secretion of trophic factors. Proangiogenic properties studied on a chick chorioallantoic membrane in an ovo model are observed for heterotypic fiberoids containing endothelial cells. These micro-to-macrotissues may find application as morphogenic therapeutic and tissue-mimetic building blocks, with the ability to integrate 3D and 4D full biological materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rita Sousa
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Martins-Cruz
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Mariana B Oliveira
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - João F Mano
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
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Rosenfeld A, Brehm M, Welle A, Trouillet V, Heissler S, Benz M, Levkin PA. Solid-phase combinatorial synthesis using microarrays of microcompartments with light-induced on-chip cell screening. Mater Today Bio 2019; 3:100022. [PMID: 32159150 PMCID: PMC7061619 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2019.100022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The process of drug discovery includes individual synthesis and characterization of drug candidates, followed by a biological screening, which is separated from synthesis in space and time. This approach suffers from low throughput and associated high costs, which in turn lead to inefficiency in the field of drug discovery. Here, we present a miniaturized platform combining combinatorial solid-phase synthesis with high-throughput cell screenings. The method is based on the formation of nanoporous poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) layers patterned with hydrophilic spots separated from each other by superhydrophobic liquid-impermeable barriers. The porous polymer inside the hydrophilic spots is used as a support to conduct solid-phase synthesis. The hydrophilic spots can be then filled with droplets containing either reagents for synthesis or live cells. Upon irradiation with UV light, products of solid-phase synthesis are released from the porous polymer because of the photo-cleavable linkers used and diffuse into separate droplets. The light-induced release of the products allows the control of the release spatially, temporally, and quantitatively. To demonstrate the versatility and usability of the platform for various cell lines, we have successfully implemented peptide synthesis to create an exemplary chemical library and demonstrated high cell viability after the UV-triggered small-molecule release.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Rosenfeld
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Toxicology and Genetics (ITG), Hermann-von Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - M Brehm
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Toxicology and Genetics (ITG), Hermann-von Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - A Welle
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Functional Interfaces, Hermann-von Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.,Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe Nano Micro Facility, Hermann-von Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - V Trouillet
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe Nano Micro Facility, Hermann-von Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.,Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Applied Materials, Hermann-von Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - S Heissler
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Functional Interfaces, Hermann-von Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - M Benz
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Toxicology and Genetics (ITG), Hermann-von Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - P A Levkin
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Toxicology and Genetics (ITG), Hermann-von Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.,Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Organic Chemistry, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
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