Vakilian S, Alam K, Al-Kindi J, Jamshidi-Adegani F, Rehman NU, Tavakoli R, Al-Riyami K, Hasan A, Zadjali F, Csuk R, Al-Harrasi A, Al-Hashmi S. An engineered microfluidic blood-brain barrier model to evaluate the anti-metastatic activity of β-boswellic acid.
Biotechnol J 2021;
16:e2100044. [PMID:
34313388 DOI:
10.1002/biot.202100044]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The development of anti-cancer drugs with the ability to inhibit brain metastasis through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is substantially limited due to the lack of reliable in vitro models.
MAIN METHODS
In this study, the Geltrex-based Transwell and microfluidic BBB models were applied to screen the effect of β-boswellic acid (β-BA) on the metastasis of MDA-MB-231 cells through the BBB in static and dynamic conditions, respectively.
MAJOR RESULTS
The toxicity assay revealed that β-BA deteriorates MDA-MB-231 cells, while β-BA had no detectable toxic effects on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and astrocytes. Trans-endothelial electrical resistance evaluation showed sustainable barrier integrity upon treatment with β-BA. Vimentin expression in HUVECs, evaluated using western blot, confirmed superior barrier integrity in the presence of β-BA. The obtained results were confirmed using an invasion study with a cell tracker and a scanning electron microscope. β-BA significantly inhibited metastasis by 85%, while cisplatin (Cis), a positive control, inhibited cancer cell migration by 12% under static conditions. Upon applying a dynamic BBB model, it was revealed that β-BA-mediated metastasis inhibition was significantly higher than that mediated by Cis.
CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS
In summary, the current study proved the anti-metastatic potential of β-BA in both static and dynamic BBB models.
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT AND LAY SUMMARY
The development of anti-cancer drugs with the ability to inhibit brain metastasis through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is substantially limited due to the lack of reliable in vitro models. In this study, the Geltrex-based Transwell and microfluidic BBB models were applied to screen the effect of β-boswellic acid (β-BA) on the metastasis of MDA-MB-231 cells through the BBB in static and dynamic conditions, respectively. In summary, the current study proved the anti-metastatic potential of β-BA in both static and dynamic BBB models.
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