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Guo W, Chen Z, Feng Z, Li H, Zhang M, Zhang H, Cui X. Fabrication of Concave Microwells and Their Applications in Micro-Tissue Engineering: A Review. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:mi13091555. [PMID: 36144178 PMCID: PMC9505614 DOI: 10.3390/mi13091555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
At present, there is an increasing need to mimic the in vivo micro-environment in the culture of cells and tissues in micro-tissue engineering. Concave microwells are becoming increasingly popular since they can provide a micro-environment that is closer to the in vivo environment compared to traditional microwells, which can facilitate the culture of cells and tissues. Here, we will summarize the fabrication methods of concave microwells, as well as their applications in micro-tissue engineering. The fabrication methods of concave microwells include traditional methods, such as lithography and etching, thermal reflow of photoresist, laser ablation, precision-computerized numerical control (CNC) milling, and emerging technologies, such as surface tension methods, the deformation of soft membranes, 3D printing, the molding of microbeads, air bubbles, and frozen droplets. The fabrication of concave microwells is transferring from professional microfabrication labs to common biochemical labs to facilitate their applications and provide convenience for users. Concave microwells have mostly been used in organ-on-a-chip models, including the formation and culture of 3D cell aggregates (spheroids, organoids, and embryoids). Researchers have also used microwells to study the influence of substrate topology on cellular behaviors. We will briefly review their applications in different aspects of micro-tissue engineering and discuss the further applications of concave microwells. We believe that building multiorgan-on-a-chip by 3D cell aggregates of different cell lines will be a popular application of concave microwells, while integrating physiologically relevant molecular analyses with the 3D culture platform will be another popular application in the near future. Furthermore, 3D cell aggregates from these biosystems will find more applications in drug screening and xenogeneic implantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijin Guo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Zejingqiu Chen
- Department of Biology, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Zitao Feng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Haonan Li
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Muyang Zhang
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Huiru Zhang
- Guangdong Foshan Lianchuang Graduate School of Engineering, Foshan 528311, China
| | - Xin Cui
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
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Osouli-Bostanabad K, Masalehdan T, Kapsa RMI, Quigley A, Lalatsa A, Bruggeman KF, Franks SJ, Williams RJ, Nisbet DR. Traction of 3D and 4D Printing in the Healthcare Industry: From Drug Delivery and Analysis to Regenerative Medicine. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2022; 8:2764-2797. [PMID: 35696306 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c00094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) printing and 3D bioprinting are promising technologies for a broad range of healthcare applications from frontier regenerative medicine and tissue engineering therapies to pharmaceutical advancements yet must overcome the challenges of biocompatibility and resolution. Through comparison of traditional biofabrication methods with 3D (bio)printing, this review highlights the promise of 3D printing for the production of on-demand, personalized, and complex products that enhance the accessibility, effectiveness, and safety of drug therapies and delivery systems. In addition, this review describes the capacity of 3D bioprinting to fabricate patient-specific tissues and living cell systems (e.g., vascular networks, organs, muscles, and skeletal systems) as well as its applications in the delivery of cells and genes, microfluidics, and organ-on-chip constructs. This review summarizes how tailoring selected parameters (i.e., accurately selecting the appropriate printing method, materials, and printing parameters based on the desired application and behavior) can better facilitate the development of optimized 3D-printed products and how dynamic 4D-printed strategies (printing materials designed to change with time or stimulus) may be deployed to overcome many of the inherent limitations of conventional 3D-printed technologies. Comprehensive insights into a critical perspective of the future of 4D bioprinting, crucial requirements for 4D printing including the programmability of a material, multimaterial printing methods, and precise designs for meticulous transformations or even clinical applications are also given.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karim Osouli-Bostanabad
- Biomaterials, Bio-engineering and Nanomedicine (BioN) Lab, Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular, Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, White Swan Road, Portsmouth PO1 2DT, United Kingdom
| | - Tahereh Masalehdan
- Department of Materials Engineering, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 51666-16444, Iran
| | - Robert M I Kapsa
- Biomedical and Electrical Engineering, School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia.,Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia
| | - Anita Quigley
- Biomedical and Electrical Engineering, School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia.,Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia
| | - Aikaterini Lalatsa
- Biomaterials, Bio-engineering and Nanomedicine (BioN) Lab, Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular, Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, White Swan Road, Portsmouth PO1 2DT, United Kingdom
| | - Kiara F Bruggeman
- Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Research School of Chemistry and the John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia.,Research School of Electrical, Energy and Materials Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Stephanie J Franks
- Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Research School of Chemistry and the John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Richard J Williams
- Institute of Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - David R Nisbet
- Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Research School of Chemistry and the John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia.,The Graeme Clark Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
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Bang S, Hwang KS, Jeong S, Cho IJ, Choi N, Kim J, Kim HN. Engineered neural circuits for modeling brain physiology and neuropathology. Acta Biomater 2021; 132:379-400. [PMID: 34157452 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The neural circuits of the central nervous system are the regulatory pathways for feeling, motion control, learning, and memory, and their dysfunction is closely related to various neurodegenerative diseases. Despite the growing demand for the unraveling of the physiology and functional connectivity of the neural circuits, their fundamental investigation is hampered because of the inability to access the components of neural circuits and the complex microenvironment. As an alternative approach, in vitro human neural circuits show principles of in vivo human neuronal circuit function. They allow access to the cellular compartment and permit real-time monitoring of neural circuits. In this review, we summarize recent advances in reconstituted in vitro neural circuits using engineering techniques. To this end, we provide an overview of the fabrication techniques and methods for stimulation and measurement of in vitro neural circuits. Subsequently, representative examples of in vitro neural circuits are reviewed with a particular focus on the recapitulation of structures and functions observed in vivo, and we summarize their application in the study of various brain diseases. We believe that the in vitro neural circuits can help neuroscience and the neuropharmacology. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Despite the growing demand to unravel the physiology and functional connectivity of the neural circuits, the studies on the in vivo neural circuits are frequently limited due to the poor accessibility. Furthermore, single neuron-based analysis has an inherent limitation in that it does not reflect the full spectrum of the neural circuit physiology. As an alternative approach, in vitro engineered neural circuit models have arisen because they can recapitulate the structural and functional characteristics of in vivo neural circuits. These in vitro neural circuits allow the mimicking of dysregulation of the neural circuits, including neurodegenerative diseases and traumatic brain injury. Emerging in vitro engineered neural circuits will provide a better understanding of the (patho-)physiology of neural circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seokyoung Bang
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong Seob Hwang
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Sohyeon Jeong
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Il-Joo Cho
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea; Yonsei-KIST Convergence Research Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Nakwon Choi
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jongbaeg Kim
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hong Nam Kim
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea.
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Lee SW, Jeong SY, Shin TH, Min J, Lee D, Jeong GS. A cell-loss-free concave microwell array based size-controlled multi-cellular tumoroid generation for anti-cancer drug screening. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0219834. [PMID: 31344058 PMCID: PMC6658056 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The 3D multi-cellular tumoroid (MCT) model is an in vivo-like, avascular tumor model that has received much attention as a refined screening platform for drug therapies. Several types of research have been efforted to improve the physiological characteristics of the tumor microenvironment (TME) of the in vivo-like MCTs. Size-controlled MCTs have received much attention for obtaining highly reproducible results in drug screening assays and achieving a homogeneous and meaningful level of biological activities. Here, we describe an effective method for fabricating the size-controlled in vivo-like MCTs using a cell-loss-free (CLF) microwell arrays. The CLF microwell arrays was fabricated by using the simple operation of laser carving of a poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) master mold. We also demonstrated the biophysicochemical effect of tumor microenvironment (TME) resident fibroblasts through the expression of TGFβ, αSMA, Type I-, IV collagen, angiogenesis related markers on tumorigenesis, and confirmed the drug response of MCTs with anti-cancer agents. This technology for the fabrication of CLF microwell arrays could be used as an effective method to produce an in vitro tumor model for cancer research and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Woo Lee
- Biomedical Engineering Research Center, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Soo Yeon Jeong
- Biomedical Engineering Research Center, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Tae Hoon Shin
- Biomedical Engineering Research Center, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Junhong Min
- School of Integrative Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Donghyun Lee
- School of Integrative Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Gi Seok Jeong
- Biomedical Engineering Research Center, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
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5
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Endothelial-neurosphere crosstalk in microwell arrays regulates self-renewal and differentiation of human neural stem cells. J IND ENG CHEM 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jiec.2019.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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6
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Jang J, Park JY, Gao G, Cho DW. Biomaterials-based 3D cell printing for next-generation therapeutics and diagnostics. Biomaterials 2018; 156:88-106. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.11.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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Zhuang P, Sun AX, An J, Chua CK, Chew SY. 3D neural tissue models: From spheroids to bioprinting. Biomaterials 2017; 154:113-133. [PMID: 29120815 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2017] [Revised: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) in vitro neural tissue models provide a better recapitulation of in vivo cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions than conventional two-dimensional (2D) cultures. Therefore, the former is believed to have great potential for both mechanistic and translational studies. In this paper, we review the recent developments in 3D in vitro neural tissue models, with a particular focus on the emerging bioprinted tissue structures. We draw on specific examples to describe the merits and limitations of each model, in terms of different applications. Bioprinting offers a revolutionary approach for constructing repeatable and controllable 3D in vitro neural tissues with diverse cell types, complex microscale features and tissue level responses. Further advances in bioprinting research would likely consolidate existing models and generate complex neural tissue structures bearing higher fidelity, which is ultimately useful for probing disease-specific mechanisms, facilitating development of novel therapeutics and promoting neural regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Zhuang
- Singapore Centre for 3D Printing, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
| | - Alfred Xuyang Sun
- Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, 20 College Road, Singapore 169856, Singapore; Genome Institute of Singapore, 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore 138672, Singapore.
| | - Jia An
- Singapore Centre for 3D Printing, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
| | - Chee Kai Chua
- Singapore Centre for 3D Printing, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
| | - Sing Yian Chew
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637459, Singapore; Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, Singapore.
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8
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Jang J. 3D Bioprinting and In Vitro Cardiovascular Tissue Modeling. Bioengineering (Basel) 2017; 4:E71. [PMID: 28952550 PMCID: PMC5615317 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering4030071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2017] [Revised: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous microfabrication approaches have been developed to recapitulate morphologically and functionally organized tissue microarchitectures in vitro; however, the technical and operational limitations remain to be overcome. 3D printing technology facilitates the building of a construct containing biomaterials and cells in desired organizations and shapes that have physiologically relevant geometry, complexity, and micro-environmental cues. The selection of biomaterials for 3D printing is considered one of the most critical factors to achieve tissue function. It has been reported that some printable biomaterials, having extracellular matrix-like intrinsic microenvironment factors, were capable of regulating stem cell fate and phenotype. In particular, this technology can control the spatial positions of cells, and provide topological, chemical, and complex cues, allowing neovascularization and maturation in the engineered cardiovascular tissues. This review will delineate the state-of-the-art 3D bioprinting techniques in the field of cardiovascular tissue engineering and their applications in translational medicine. In addition, this review will describe 3D printing-based pre-vascularization technologies correlated with implementing blood perfusion throughout the engineered tissue equivalent. The described engineering method may offer a unique approach that results in the physiological mimicry of human cardiovascular tissues to aid in drug development and therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinah Jang
- Department of Creative IT Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Kyungbuk, Korea.
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9
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Jeong GS, No DY, Lee J, Yoon J, Chung S, Lee SH. Viscoelastic lithography for fabricating self-organizing soft micro-honeycomb structures with ultra-high aspect ratios. Nat Commun 2016; 7:11269. [PMID: 27157977 PMCID: PMC4865738 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2015] [Accepted: 03/08/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
High-aspect ratio micro- and nano-structures have been used for the production of a variety of applications. In this paper, we describe a simple and cost-effective approach to fabricate an arrayed microarchitecture with an ultra-high aspect ratio using soft materials. The shapes and sizes of the honeycomb structure can be easily modulated by changing the dimensions and position of the base mould pattern and the pressure. The honeycomb structure is used to prepare a drug delivery patch and a microwell array to form cell spheroids without cell loss. The honeycomb structures prepared using natural ECM (collagen-Matrigel) materials are successfully fabricated. The hepatocytes and endothelial cells are seeded and co-cultured in the ECM-based micro-honeycomb to prepare a 3D liver model successfully mimicking an ultrastructure of liver and providing enhanced liver function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gi Seok Jeong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Health Science,
Korea University, Anam-ro 145, Seongbuk-gu,
Seoul
02841, Korea
- Biomedical Engineering Research Center, Asan Institute for Life
Sciences, Asan Medical Center, 88 olympic-Ro,
Songpa-gu, Seoul
05505, Korea
| | - Da Yoon No
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Health Science,
Korea University, Anam-ro 145, Seongbuk-gu,
Seoul
02841, Korea
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and
Medicine, Stanford University, 443 Via Ortega,
Stanford, California
94305, USA
| | - JaeSeo Lee
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology,
Korea University, Seoul
02841, Korea
| | - Junghyo Yoon
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University,
Anam-ro 145, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul
02841, Korea
| | - Seok Chung
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University,
Anam-ro 145, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul
02841, Korea
| | - Sang-Hoon Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Health Science,
Korea University, Anam-ro 145, Seongbuk-gu,
Seoul
02841, Korea
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology,
Korea University, Seoul
02841, Korea
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Zheng F, Fu F, Cheng Y, Wang C, Zhao Y, Gu Z. Organ-on-a-Chip Systems: Microengineering to Biomimic Living Systems. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2016; 12:2253-82. [PMID: 26901595 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201503208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Revised: 12/09/2015] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
"Organ-on-a-chip" systems integrate microengineering, microfluidic technologies, and biomimetic principles to create key aspects of living organs faithfully, including critical microarchitecture, spatiotemporal cell-cell interactions, and extracellular microenvironments. This creative platform and its multiorgan integration recapitulating organ-level structures and functions can bring unprecedented benefits to a diversity of applications, such as developing human in vitro models for healthy or diseased organs, enabling the investigation of fundamental mechanisms in disease etiology and organogenesis, benefiting drug development in toxicity screening and target discovery, and potentially serving as replacements for animal testing. Recent advances in novel designs and examples for developing organ-on-a-chip platforms are reviewed. The potential for using this emerging technology in understanding human physiology including mechanical, chemical, and electrical signals with precise spatiotemporal controls are discussed. The current challenges and future directions that need to be pursued for these proof-of-concept studies are also be highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuyin Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Fanfan Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Yao Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Chunyan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Yuanjin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Zhongze Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
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Jeong GS, Chang JY, Park JS, Lee SA, Park D, Woo J, An H, Lee CJ, Lee SH. Networked neural spheroid by neuro-bundle mimicking nervous system created by topology effect. Mol Brain 2015; 8:17. [PMID: 25888468 PMCID: PMC4379946 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-015-0109-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2015] [Accepted: 03/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
In most animals, the nervous system consists of the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS), the latter of which connects the CNS to all parts of the body. Damage and/or malfunction of the nervous system causes serious pathologies, including neurodegenerative disorders, spinal cord injury, and Alzheimer’s disease. Thus, not surprising, considerable research effort, both in vivo and in vitro, has been devoted to studying the nervous system and signal transmission through it. However, conventional in vitro cell culture systems do not enable control over diverse aspects of the neural microenvironment. Moreover, formation of certain nervous system growth patterns in vitro remains a challenge. In this study, we developed a deep hemispherical, microchannel-networked, concave array system and applied it to generate three-dimensional nerve-like neural bundles. The deep hemicylindrical channel network was easily fabricated by exploiting the meniscus induced by the surface tension of a liquid poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) prepolymer. Neurospheroids spontaneously aggregated in each deep concave microwell and were networked to neighboring spheroids through the deep hemicylindrical channel. Notably, two types of satellite spheroids also formed in deep hemispherical microchannels through self-aggregation and acted as an anchoring point to enhance formation of nerve-like networks with neighboring spheroids. During neural-network formation, neural progenitor cells successfully differentiated into glial and neuronal cells. These cells secreted laminin, forming an extracellular matrix around the host and satellite spheroids. Electrical stimuli were transmitted between networked neurospheroids in the resulting nerve-like neural bundle, as detected by imaging Ca2+ signals in responding cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gi Seok Jeong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, 136-100, South Korea.
| | - Joon Young Chang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, 136-100, South Korea.
| | - Ji Soo Park
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, 136-100, South Korea. .,KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul, 136-701, South Korea.
| | - Seung-A Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, 136-100, South Korea.
| | - DoYeun Park
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, 136-100, South Korea.
| | - Junsung Woo
- Center for Neural Science and WCI Center for Functional Connectomics, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 136-791, South Korea. .,Neuroscience Program, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon, 305-350, South Korea.
| | - Heeyoung An
- Center for Neural Science and WCI Center for Functional Connectomics, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 136-791, South Korea.
| | - C Justin Lee
- Center for Neural Science and WCI Center for Functional Connectomics, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 136-791, South Korea. .,Neuroscience Program, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon, 305-350, South Korea. .,KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul, 136-701, South Korea.
| | - Sang-Hoon Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, 136-100, South Korea. .,KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul, 136-701, South Korea.
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