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Kawakita S, Mandal K, Mou L, Mecwan MM, Zhu Y, Li S, Sharma S, Hernandez AL, Nguyen HT, Maity S, de Barros NR, Nakayama A, Bandaru P, Ahadian S, Kim HJ, Herculano RD, Holler E, Jucaud V, Dokmeci MR, Khademhosseini A. Organ-On-A-Chip Models of the Blood-Brain Barrier: Recent Advances and Future Prospects. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2201401. [PMID: 35978444 PMCID: PMC9529899 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202201401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The human brain and central nervous system (CNS) present unique challenges in drug development for neurological diseases. One major obstacle is the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which hampers the effective delivery of therapeutic molecules into the brain while protecting it from blood-born neurotoxic substances and maintaining CNS homeostasis. For BBB research, traditional in vitro models rely upon Petri dishes or Transwell systems. However, these static models lack essential microenvironmental factors such as shear stress and proper cell-cell interactions. To this end, organ-on-a-chip (OoC) technology has emerged as a new in vitro modeling approach to better recapitulate the highly dynamic in vivo human brain microenvironment so-called the neural vascular unit (NVU). Such BBB-on-a-chip models have made substantial progress over the last decade, and concurrently there has been increasing interest in modeling various neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease using OoC technology. In addition, with recent advances in other scientific technologies, several new opportunities to improve the BBB-on-a-chip platform via multidisciplinary approaches are available. In this review, an overview of the NVU and OoC technology is provided, recent progress and applications of BBB-on-a-chip for personalized medicine and drug discovery are discussed, and current challenges and future directions are delineated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoru Kawakita
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | - Kalpana Mandal
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | - Lei Mou
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University, No. 63 Duobao Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510150, P. R. China
| | | | - Yangzhi Zhu
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | - Shaopei Li
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | - Saurabh Sharma
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | | | - Huu Tuan Nguyen
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | - Surjendu Maity
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | | | - Aya Nakayama
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | - Praveen Bandaru
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | - Samad Ahadian
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | - Han-Jun Kim
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | - Rondinelli Donizetti Herculano
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
- Department of Bioprocess and Biotechnology Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Araraquara, SP, 14801-902, Brazil
| | - Eggehard Holler
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | - Vadim Jucaud
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | | | - Ali Khademhosseini
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
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Bazban-Shotorbani S, Gavins F, Kant K, Dufva M, Kamaly N. A Biomicrofluidic Screening Platform for Dysfunctional Endothelium‐Targeted Nanoparticles and Therapeutics. ADVANCED NANOBIOMED RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/anbr.202100092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Salime Bazban-Shotorbani
- Department of Health Technology DTU Health Tech Technical University of Denmark Lyngby 2800 Kgs. Denmark
- Department of Chemistry Molecular Sciences Research Hub (MSRH) Imperial College London London W12 0BZ UK
| | - Felicity Gavins
- Department of Life Sciences Centre for Inflammation Research and Translational Medicine (CIRTM) Brunel University London London UB8 3PH UK
| | - Krishna Kant
- Department of Physical Chemistry Biomedical Research Center of Galicia (CINBIO) University of Vigo Vigo 36310 Spain
| | - Martin Dufva
- Department of Health Technology DTU Health Tech Technical University of Denmark Lyngby 2800 Kgs. Denmark
| | - Nazila Kamaly
- Department of Chemistry Molecular Sciences Research Hub (MSRH) Imperial College London London W12 0BZ UK
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3
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Endothelial Cells as Tools to Model Tissue Microenvironment in Hypoxia-Dependent Pathologies. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22020520. [PMID: 33430201 PMCID: PMC7825710 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 12/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells (ECs) lining the blood vessels are important players in many biological phenomena but are crucial in hypoxia-dependent diseases where their deregulation contributes to pathology. On the other hand, processes mediated by ECs, such as angiogenesis, vessel permeability, interactions with cells and factors circulating in the blood, maintain homeostasis of the organism. Understanding the diversity and heterogeneity of ECs in different tissues and during various biological processes is crucial in biomedical research to properly develop our knowledge on many diseases, including cancer. Here, we review the most important aspects related to ECs’ heterogeneity and list the available in vitro tools to study different angiogenesis-related pathologies. We focus on the relationship between functions of ECs and their organo-specificity but also point to how the microenvironment, mainly hypoxia, shapes their activity. We believe that taking into account the specific features of ECs that are relevant to the object of the study (organ or disease state), especially in a simplified in vitro setting, is important to truly depict the biology of endothelium and its consequences. This is possible in many instances with the use of proper in vitro tools as alternative methods to animal testing.
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Hemmilä S, Ruponen M, Toropainen E, Tengvall-Unadike U, Urtti A, Kallio P. Microflow-Based Device for In Vitro and Ex Vivo Drug Permeability Studies. SLAS Technol 2020; 25:455-462. [PMID: 32351160 PMCID: PMC7509603 DOI: 10.1177/2472630320916190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This paper presents a novel microflow-based concept for studying the permeability of in vitro cell models or ex vivo tissues. Using the proposed concept, we demonstrate how to maintain physiologically relevant test conditions and produce highly reproducible permeability values for a range (31) of drug compounds. The apparent permeability coefficients (Papp) showed excellent correlation (0.89) with the values from experiments performed with a conventional Ussing chamber. Additionally, the microflow-based concept produces notably more concentrated samples than the conventional Ussing chamber-based approach, despite the fact that more than 10 times smaller quantities of test compounds and biological membranes are needed in the microflow-based concept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samu Hemmilä
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Marika Ruponen
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Elisa Toropainen
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Unni Tengvall-Unadike
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Arto Urtti
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Laboratory of Biohybrid Technologies, Institute of Chemistry, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - Pasi Kallio
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
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Hochstetter A. Lab-on-a-Chip Technologies for the Single Cell Level: Separation, Analysis, and Diagnostics. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:E468. [PMID: 32365567 PMCID: PMC7281269 DOI: 10.3390/mi11050468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2020] [Revised: 04/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In the last three decades, microfluidics and its applications have been on an exponential rise, including approaches to isolate rare cells and diagnose diseases on the single-cell level. The techniques mentioned herein have already had significant impacts in our lives, from in-the-field diagnosis of disease and parasitic infections, through home fertility tests, to uncovering the interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and their host cells. This review gives an overview of the field in general and the most notable developments of the last five years, in three parts: 1. What can we detect? 2. Which detection technologies are used in which setting? 3. How do these techniques work? Finally, this review discusses potentials, shortfalls, and an outlook on future developments, especially in respect to the funding landscape and the field-application of these chips.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel Hochstetter
- Experimentalphysik, Universität des Saarlandes, D-66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
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Sasaki N, Tatanou M, Suzuki T, Anraku Y, Kishimura A, Kataoka K, Sato K. A Membrane-integrated Microfluidic Device to Study Permeation of Nanoparticles through Straight Micropores toward Rational Design of Nanomedicines. ANAL SCI 2018; 32:1307-1314. [PMID: 27941260 DOI: 10.2116/analsci.32.1307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Nanoparticles have been widely utilized to deliver drugs from blood vessels to target tissues. A crucial issue concerning nanoparticle-based drug delivery is to discuss the relationship between experimentally-obtained permeability and physical parameters. Although nanoparticles can permeate vascular pores, because the size and shape of the pores are essentially non-uniform, conventional animal testing and recent cell-based microfluidic devices are unable to precisely evaluate the effects of physical parameters (e.g. pore size and nanoparticle size) on permeation. In this study, we present a membrane-integrated microfluidic device to study permeation of nanoparticles through straight micropores. Porous membranes possessing uniform straight pores were utilized. The effects of pore size and pressure difference across the pores on nanoparticle permeation were examined. The experimentally determined permeability coefficient of 1.0 μm-pore membrane against 100 nm-diameter nanoparticles agreed well with the theoretical value obtained for convectional permeation. Our method can be utilized to clarify the relationship between the experimentally-obtained permeability and physical parameters, and will help rational design of nanomedicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Sasaki
- Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Japan Women's University
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7
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Bogorad MI, DeStefano J, Wong AD, Searson PC. Tissue-engineered 3D microvessel and capillary network models for the study of vascular phenomena. Microcirculation 2018; 24. [PMID: 28164421 DOI: 10.1111/micc.12360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 01/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Advances in tissue engineering, cell biology, microfabrication, and microfluidics have led to the development of a wide range of vascular models. Here, we review platforms based on templated microvessel fabrication to generate increasingly complex vascular models of (i) the tumor microenvironment, (ii) occluded microvessels, and (iii) perfused capillary networks. We outline fabrication guidelines and demonstrate a number of experimental methods for probing vascular function such as permeability measurements, tumor cell intravasation, flow characterization, and endothelial cell morphology and proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max I Bogorad
- Institute for Nanobiotechnology (INBT), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jackson DeStefano
- Institute for Nanobiotechnology (INBT), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrew D Wong
- Institute for Nanobiotechnology (INBT), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Peter C Searson
- Institute for Nanobiotechnology (INBT), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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8
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Aman J, Weijers EM, van Nieuw Amerongen GP, Malik AB, van Hinsbergh VWM. Using cultured endothelial cells to study endothelial barrier dysfunction: Challenges and opportunities. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2016; 311:L453-66. [PMID: 27343194 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00393.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite considerable progress in the understanding of endothelial barrier regulation and the identification of approaches that have the potential to improve endothelial barrier function, no drug- or stem cell-based therapy is presently available to reverse the widespread vascular leak that is observed in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and sepsis. The translational gap suggests a need to develop experimental approaches and tools that better mimic the complex environment of the microcirculation in which the vascular leak develops. Recent studies have identified several elements of this microenvironment. Among these are composition and stiffness of the extracellular matrix, fluid shear stress, interaction of endothelial cells (ECs) with pericytes, oxygen tension, and the combination of toxic and mechanic injurious stimuli. Development of novel cell culture techniques that integrate these elements would allow in-depth analysis of EC biology that closely approaches the (patho)physiological conditions in situ. In parallel, techniques to isolate organ-specific ECs, to define EC heterogeneity in its full complexity, and to culture patient-derived ECs from inducible pluripotent stem cells or endothelial progenitor cells are likely to advance the understanding of ARDS and lead to development of therapeutics. This review 1) summarizes the advantages and pitfalls of EC cultures to study vascular leak in ARDS, 2) provides an overview of elements of the microvascular environment that can directly affect endothelial barrier function, and 3) discusses alternative methods to bridge the gap between basic research and clinical application with the intent of improving the translational value of present EC culture approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jurjan Aman
- Department of Physiology, Institute for Cardiovascular Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Institute for Cardiovascular Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Ester M Weijers
- Department of Physiology, Institute for Cardiovascular Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Geerten P van Nieuw Amerongen
- Department of Physiology, Institute for Cardiovascular Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Asrar B Malik
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Victor W M van Hinsbergh
- Department of Physiology, Institute for Cardiovascular Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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9
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Sato M, Sasaki N, Ato M, Hirakawa S, Sato K, Sato K. Microcirculation-on-a-Chip: A Microfluidic Platform for Assaying Blood- and Lymphatic-Vessel Permeability. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0137301. [PMID: 26332321 PMCID: PMC4558006 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2015] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We developed a microfluidic model of microcirculation containing both blood and lymphatic vessels for examining vascular permeability. The designed microfluidic device harbors upper and lower channels that are partly aligned and are separated by a porous membrane, and on this membrane, blood vascular endothelial cells (BECs) and lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) were cocultured back-to-back. At cell-cell junctions of both BECs and LECs, claudin-5 and VE-cadherin were detected. The permeability coefficient measured here was lower than the value reported for isolated mammalian venules. Moreover, our results showed that the flow culture established in the device promoted the formation of endothelial cell-cell junctions, and that treatment with histamine, an inflammation-promoting substance, induced changes in the localization of tight and adherens junction-associated proteins and an increase in vascular permeability in the microdevice. These findings indicated that both BECs and LECs appeared to retain their functions in the microfluidic coculture platform. Using this microcirculation device, the vascular damage induced by habu snake venom was successfully assayed, and the assay time was reduced from 24 h to 30 min. This is the first report of a microcirculation model in which BECs and LECs were cocultured. Because the micromodel includes lymphatic vessels in addition to blood vessels, the model can be used to evaluate both vascular permeability and lymphatic return rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miwa Sato
- Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Japan Women’s University, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naoki Sasaki
- Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Japan Women’s University, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Manabu Ato
- Department of Immunology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Hirakawa
- Department of Dermatology at Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Kiichi Sato
- Division of Molecular Science, School of Science and Technology, Gunma University, Kiryu, Gunma, Japan
| | - Kae Sato
- Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Japan Women’s University, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
- * E-mail:
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10
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Mondal A, Baker B, Harvey IR, Moreno AP. PerFlexMEA: a thin microporous microelectrode array for in vitro cardiac electrophysiological studies on hetero-cellular bilayers with controlled gap junction communication. LAB ON A CHIP 2015; 15:2037-2048. [PMID: 25797476 DOI: 10.1039/c4lc01212g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The new microelectrode array device presented is called PerFlexMEA and it enables controlled coupling between myocytes and nonmyocytes used in cardiovascular conduction studies. The device consists of an 8 μm thin parylene microporous membrane with a 4 × 5 microelectrode array patterned on one side. Myocytes and nonmyocytes can be plated on either side of the parylene membrane to create a tissue bilayer. The 3-3.5 μm diameter pores allow inter-layer dye and electrical coupling without transmembrane cell migration. Cell migration was found to vary with cell-type and micropore diameter. Pore density can be varied based on desired coupling ratio. The flexible parylene membrane is packaged between two rigid thermoplastic layers, such that the microelectrode array region is exposed, while the rest of the device remains insulated. The packaged PerFlexMEA fits in a 60 mm culture dish. Recording experiments are performed by simply plugging it into a commercially available multielectrode amplifier system. Recorded signals were processed and analysed using scripts generated in MATLAB. Our experimental results provide evidence of the reliability of this device, as conduction velocity was observed to decrease after inducing lateral hetero-cellular controlled coupling between myocytes and HeLa cells expressing connexin 43.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Mondal
- Nora Eccles Harrison Cardiovascular Research & Training Institute, University of Utah, 95 South 2000 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-5000, USA.
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11
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Bol L, Galas JC, Hillaireau H, Le Potier I, Nicolas V, Haghiri-Gosnet AM, Fattal E, Taverna M. A microdevice for parallelized pulmonary permeability studies. Biomed Microdevices 2014; 16:277-85. [PMID: 24337430 DOI: 10.1007/s10544-013-9831-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
We describe a compartmentalized microdevice specifically designed to perform permeability studies across a model of lung barrier. Epithelial cell barriers were reproduced by culturing Calu-3 cells at the air-liquid interface (AIC) in 1 mm² microwells made from a perforated glass slide with an embedded porous membrane. We created a single basolateral reservoir for all microwells which eliminated the need to renew the growth medium during the culture growth phase. To perform drug permeability studies on confluent cell layers, the cell culture slide was aligned and joined to a collection platform consisting in 35 μL collection reservoirs connected at the top and bottom with microchannels. The integrity and functionality of the cell barriers were demonstrated by measurement of trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER), confocal imaging and permeability assays of ¹⁴C-sucrose. Micro-cell barriers were able to form confluent layers in 1 week, demonstrating a similar bioelectrical evolution as the Transwell systems used as controls. Tight junctions were observed throughout the cell-cell interfaces, and the low permeability coefficients of ¹⁴C-sucrose confirmed their functional presence, creating a primary barrier to the diffusion of solutes. This microdevice could facilitate the monitoring of biomolecule transport and the screening of formulations promoting their passage across the pulmonary barrier, in order to select candidates for pulmonary administration to patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludivine Bol
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris-Sud, 92290, Châtenay-Malabry, France
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12
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Buchanan C, Rylander MN. Microfluidic culture models to study the hydrodynamics of tumor progression and therapeutic response. Biotechnol Bioeng 2013; 110:2063-72. [PMID: 23616255 DOI: 10.1002/bit.24944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2013] [Revised: 04/12/2013] [Accepted: 04/17/2013] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The integration of tissue engineering strategies with microfluidic technologies has enabled the design of in vitro microfluidic culture models that better adapt to morphological changes in tissue structure and function over time. These biomimetic microfluidic scaffolds accurately mimic native 3D microenvironments, as well as permit precise and simultaneous control of chemical gradients, hydrodynamic stresses, and cellular niches within the system. The recent application of microfluidic in vitro culture models to cancer research offers enormous potential to aid in the development of improved therapeutic strategies by supporting the investigation of tumor angiogenesis and metastasis under physiologically relevant flow conditions. The intrinsic material properties and fluid mechanics of microfluidic culture models enable high-throughput anti-cancer drug screening, permit well-defined and controllable input parameters to monitor tumor cell response to various hydrodynamic conditions or treatment modalities, as well as provide a platform for elucidating fundamental mechanisms of tumor physiology. This review highlights recent developments and future applications of microfluidic culture models to study tumor progression and therapeutic targeting under conditions of hydrodynamic stress relevant to the complex tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara Buchanan
- Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Lab 340 ICTAS Building I, Stanger Street, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA.
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13
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Adams WJ, García-Cardeña G. Novel stem cell-based drug discovery platforms for cardiovascular disease. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 17:1117-27. [PMID: 22853930 DOI: 10.1177/1087057112454741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The complexity and diversity of many human diseases pose significant hurdles to the development of novel therapeutics. New scientific and technological advances, such as pharmacogenetics, provide valuable frameworks for understanding genetic predisposition to disease and tools for diagnosis and drug development. However, another framework is emerging based on recent scientific advances, one we suggest to call pharmacoempirics. Pharmacoempirics takes advantage of merging two nascent fields: first, the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells, which are differentiated into mature cell types and represent patient-specific genetic backgrounds, and, second, bioengineering advances allowing sophisticated re-creation of human pathophysiology in laboratory settings. The combination of these two innovative technologies should allow new experimentation on disease biology and drug discovery, efficacy, and toxicology unencumbered by hypothesis generation and testing. In this review, we discuss the challenges and promises of this exciting new type of discovery platform and outline its implementation for cardiovascular drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J Adams
- Program in Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Abstract
In vitro studies of vascular physiology have traditionally relied on cultures of endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and pericytes grown on centimeter-scale plates, filters, and flow chambers. The introduction of microfluidic tools has revolutionized the study of vascular physiology by allowing researchers to create physiologically relevant culture models, at the same time greatly reducing the consumption of expensive reagents. By taking advantage of the small dimensions and laminar flow inherent in microfluidic systems, recent studies have created in vitro models that reproduce many features of the in vivo vascular microenvironment with fine spatial and temporal resolution. In this review, we highlight the advantages of microfluidics in four areas: the investigation of hemodynamics on a capillary length scale, the modulation of fluid streams over vascular cells, angiogenesis induced by the exposure of vascular cells to well-defined gradients in growth factors or pressure, and the growth of microvascular networks in biomaterials. Such unique capabilities at the microscale are rapidly advancing the understanding of microcirculatory dynamics, shear responses, and angiogenesis in health and disease as well as the ability to create in vivo-like blood vessels in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith H K Wong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
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15
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Kuhnline Sloan CD, Nandi P, Linz TH, Aldrich JV, Audus KL, Lunte SM. Analytical and biological methods for probing the blood-brain barrier. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY (PALO ALTO, CALIF.) 2012; 5:505-31. [PMID: 22708905 PMCID: PMC3744104 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-anchem-062011-143002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is an important interface between the peripheral and central nervous systems. It protects the brain against the infiltration of harmful substances and regulates the permeation of beneficial endogenous substances from the blood into the extracellular fluid of the brain. It can also present a major obstacle in the development of drugs that are targeted for the central nervous system. Several methods have been developed to investigate the transport and metabolism of drugs, peptides, and endogenous compounds at the BBB. In vivo methods include intravenous injection, brain perfusion, positron emission tomography, and microdialysis sampling. Researchers have also developed in vitro cell-culture models that can be employed to investigate transport and metabolism at the BBB without the complication of systemic involvement. All these methods require sensitive and selective analytical methods to monitor the transport and metabolism of the compounds of interest at the BBB.
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Epshteyn AA, Maher S, Taylor AJ, Holton AB, Borenstein JT, Cuiffi JD. Membrane-integrated microfluidic device for high-resolution live cell imaging. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2011; 5:46501-465016. [PMID: 22662065 PMCID: PMC3364812 DOI: 10.1063/1.3647824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2011] [Accepted: 09/20/2011] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The design and fabrication of a membrane-integrated microfluidic cell culture device (five layers,≤500 μm total thickness) developed for high resolution microscopy is reported here. The multi-layer device was constructed to enable membrane separated cell culture for tissue mimetic in vitro model applications and pharmacodynamic evaluation studies. The microdevice was developed via a unique combination of low profile fluidic interconnect design, substrate transfer methodology, and wet silane bonding. To demonstrate the unique high resolution imaging capability of this device, we used oil immersion microscopy to image stained nuclei and mitochondria in primary hepatocytes adhered to the incorporated membrane.
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Young EWK, Watson MWL, Srigunapalan S, Wheeler AR, Simmons CA. Technique for real-time measurements of endothelial permeability in a microfluidic membrane chip using laser-induced fluorescence detection. Anal Chem 2010; 82:808-16. [PMID: 20050596 DOI: 10.1021/ac901560w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Characterizing permeability of the endothelium that lines blood vessels and heart valves provides fundamental physiological information and is required to evaluate uptake of drugs and other biomolecules. However, current techniques used to measure permeability, such as Transwell insert assays, do not account for the recognized effects of fluid flow-induced shear stress on endothelial permeability or are inherently low-throughput. Here we report a novel on-chip technique in a two-layer membrane-based microfluidic platform to measure real-time permeability of endothelial cell monolayers on porous membranes. Bovine serum albumin (a model protein) conjugated with fluorescein isothiocyanate was delivered to an upper microchannel by pressure-driven flow and was forced to permeate a poly(ethylene terephthalate) membrane into a lower microchannel, where it was detected by laser-induced fluorescence. The concentration of the permeate at the point of detection varied with channel flow rates in agreement to less than 1% with theoretical analyses using a pore flow model. On the basis of the model, a sequential flow rate stepping scheme was developed and applied to obtain the permeability of cell-free and cell-bound membrane layers. This technique is a highly sensitive, novel microfluidic approach for measuring endothelial permeability in vitro, and the use of micrometer-sized channels offers the potential for parallelization and increased throughput compared to conventional shear-based permeability measurement methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edmond W K Young
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King's College Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 3G8
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