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Yadav R, Mahajan S, Singh H, Mehra NK, Madan J, Doijad N, Singh PK, Guru SK. Emerging In Vitro and In Vivo Models: Hope for the Better Understanding of Cancer Progression and Treatment. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2024; 8:e2300487. [PMID: 38581078 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300487] [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: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Various cancer models have been developed to aid the understanding of the underlying mechanisms of tumor development and evaluate the effectiveness of various anticancer drugs in preclinical studies. These models accurately reproduce the critical stages of tumor initiation and development to mimic the tumor microenvironment better. Using these models for target validation, tumor response evaluation, resistance modeling, and toxicity comprehension can significantly enhance the drug development process. Herein, various in vivo or animal models are presented, typically consisting of several mice and in vitro models ranging in complexity from transwell models to spheroids and CRISPR-Cas9 technologies. While in vitro models have been used for decades and dominate the early stages of drug development, they are still limited primary to simplistic tests based on testing on a single cell type cultivated in Petri dishes. Recent advancements in developing new cancer therapies necessitate the generation of complicated animal models that accurately mimic the tumor's complexity and microenvironment. Mice make effective tumor models as they are affordable, have a short reproductive cycle, exhibit rapid tumor growth, and are simple to manipulate genetically. Human cancer mouse models are crucial to understanding the neoplastic process and basic and clinical research improvements. The following review summarizes different in vitro and in vivo metastasis models, their advantages and disadvantages, and their ability to serve as a model for cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachana Yadav
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, Telangana, 500037, India
| | - Srushti Mahajan
- Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hyderabad, 500037, India
| | - Hoshiyar Singh
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, Telangana, 500037, India
| | - Neelesh Kumar Mehra
- Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hyderabad, 500037, India
| | - Jitender Madan
- Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hyderabad, 500037, India
| | - Nandkumar Doijad
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, Telangana, 500037, India
| | - Pankaj Kumar Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hyderabad, 500037, India
| | - Santosh Kumar Guru
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, Telangana, 500037, India
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Ko J, Song J, Lee Y, Choi N, Kim HN. Understanding organotropism in cancer metastasis using microphysiological systems. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:1542-1556. [PMID: 38192269 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00889d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Cancer metastasis, the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, remains a complex challenge in medical science. Stephen Paget's "seed and soil theory" introduced the concept of organotropism, suggesting that metastatic success depends on specific organ microenvironments. Understanding organotropism not only offers potential for curbing metastasis but also novel treatment strategies. Microphysiological systems (MPS), especially organ-on-a-chip models, have emerged as transformative tools in this quest. These systems, blending microfluidics, biology, and engineering, grant precise control over cell interactions within organ-specific microenvironments. MPS enable real-time monitoring, morphological analysis, and protein quantification, enhancing our comprehension of cancer dynamics, including tumor migration, vascularization, and pre-metastatic niches. In this review, we explore innovative applications of MPS in investigating cancer metastasis, particularly focusing on organotropism. This interdisciplinary approach converges the field of science, engineering, and medicine, thereby illuminating a path toward groundbreaking discoveries in cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihoon Ko
- Department of BioNano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 13120, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jiyoung Song
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yedam Lee
- Department of BioNano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 13120, 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, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, 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, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Yonsei-KIST Convergence Research Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
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Chang DM, Hsu HH, Ko PL, Chang WJ, Hsieh TH, Wu HM, Tung YC. Rapid time-lapse 3D oxygen tension measurements within hydrogels using widefield frequency-domain fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FD-FLIM) and image segmentation. Analyst 2024; 149:1727-1737. [PMID: 38375547 DOI: 10.1039/d3an01625k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the influence of oxygen tension on cellular functions and behaviors is crucial for investigating various physiological and pathological conditions. In vitro cell culture models, particularly those based on hydrogel extracellular matrices, have been developed to study cellular responses in specific oxygen microenvironments. However, accurately characterizing oxygen tension variations with great spatiotemporal resolutions, especially in three dimensions, remains challenging. This paper presents an approach for rapid time-lapse 3D oxygen tension measurements in hydrogels using a widely available inverted fluorescence microscope. Oxygen-sensitive fluorescent microbeads and widefield frequency-domain fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FD-FLIM) are utilized for oxygen tension estimation. To incorporate the third dimension, a motorized sample stage is implanted that enables automated image acquisition in the vertical direction. A machine learning algorithm based on K-means clustering is employed for microbead position identification. Using an upside-down microfluidic device, 3D oxygen gradients are generated within a hydrogel sample, and z-stack images are acquired using the FD-FLIM system. Analyses of the acquired images, involving microbead position identification, lifetime calculation, and oxygen tension conversion, are then performed offline. The results demonstrate the functionality of the developed approach for rapid time-lapse 3D oxygen tension measurements in hydrogels. Furthermore, the 3D oxygen tension adjacent to a tumor spheroid within a hydrogel during media exchange is characterized. The results further confirm that the 3D spatiotemporal oxygen tension profiles can be successfully measured quantitatively using the established setup and analysis process and that the approach may have great potential for investigating cellular activities within oxygen microenvironments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dao-Ming Chang
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan.
| | - Heng-Hua Hsu
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan.
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Ping-Liang Ko
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan.
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Jen Chang
- Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
| | - Tung-Han Hsieh
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan.
| | - Hsiao-Mei Wu
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan.
- Department of Biomechatronics Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
| | - Yi-Chung Tung
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan.
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Farahani MK, Gharibshahian M, Rezvani A, Vaez A. Breast cancer brain metastasis: from etiology to state-of-the-art modeling. J Biol Eng 2023; 17:41. [PMID: 37386445 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-023-00352-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently, breast carcinoma is the most common form of malignancy and the main cause of cancer mortality in women worldwide. The metastasis of cancer cells from the primary tumor site to other organs in the body, notably the lungs, bones, brain, and liver, is what causes breast cancer to ultimately be fatal. Brain metastases occur in as many as 30% of patients with advanced breast cancer, and the 1-year survival rate of these patients is around 20%. Many researchers have focused on brain metastasis, but due to its complexities, many aspects of this process are still relatively unclear. To develop and test novel therapies for this fatal condition, pre-clinical models are required that can mimic the biological processes involved in breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM). The application of many breakthroughs in the area of tissue engineering has resulted in the development of scaffold or matrix-based culture methods that more accurately imitate the original extracellular matrix (ECM) of metastatic tumors. Furthermore, specific cell lines are now being used to create three-dimensional (3D) cultures that can be used to model metastasis. These 3D cultures satisfy the requirement for in vitro methodologies that allow for a more accurate investigation of the molecular pathways as well as a more in-depth examination of the effects of the medication being tested. In this review, we talk about the latest advances in modeling BCBM using cell lines, animals, and tissue engineering methods.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maliheh Gharibshahian
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Alireza Rezvani
- Hematology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Ahmad Vaez
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
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Sitte ZR, Larson TS, McIntosh JC, Sinanian M, Lockett MR. Selecting the appropriate indirect viability assay for 3D paper-based cultures: a data-driven study. Analyst 2023; 148:2245-2255. [PMID: 37073480 PMCID: PMC10192127 DOI: 10.1039/d3an00283g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
Cellular viability measurements quantify decreased proliferation or increased cytotoxicity caused by drug candidates or potential environmental toxins. Direct viability measures count each cell to provide an accurate readout. This approach can prove analytically challenging and time-consuming when cells are maintained in 3D structures akin to tissues or solid tumors. While less labor-intensive, indirect viability measures can be less accurate due to the heterogeneous structural and chemical microenvironment that arises when cells are maintained in tissue-like architectures and in contact with extracellular matrices. Here we determine the analytical figures of merit of five indirect viability assays in the paper-based cell culture platform we continue to develop in our laboratory: calcein-AM staining, the CellTiter-Glo assay, imaging fluorescent protein expression, propidium iodide staining, and the resazurin assay. We also determined the compatibility of each indirect assay with hypoxic conditions, intra-experimental repeatability, inter-experimental reproducibility, and ability to predict a potency value for a known antineoplastic drug. Our results show that each assay has benefits and drawbacks to consider when choosing the appropriate readout to answer a particular research question. We also highlight that only one indirect readout is unaffected by hypoxia, a commonly overlooked variable in cell culture that likely yields inaccurate viability measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary R Sitte
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, USA.
| | - Tyler S Larson
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, USA.
| | - Julie C McIntosh
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, USA.
| | - Melanie Sinanian
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, USA.
| | - Matthew R Lockett
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, USA.
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 450 West Davis Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7295, USA
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Insall RH. Receptors, enzymes and self-attraction as autocrine generators and amplifiers of chemotaxis and cell steering. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2023; 81:102169. [PMID: 37075582 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2023.102169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
Cells create their own steering cues, or modify cues from their outside, for a number of reasons. These include generating optimal, legible directional information; probing their environments for information to help decide an optimal route; symmetry breaking; generating new patterns and complexity; and bringing together collectives such as neutrophil swarms. Recent advances include more mechanisms of self-steering, in particular by using cell-generated mechanical cues, and gradients of respired oxygen. An increasing number of cell types are being found to use self-steering, in particular immune cells responding to chemokines and mesodermal cells during gastrulation. Finally, receptor modification has emerged as an important limit on the range of neutrophil swarming, allowing cells to monitor other areas as well as coming together. Self-steering is thus emerging as a dominant feature of cell motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert H Insall
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK.
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Monteduro AG, Rizzato S, Caragnano G, Trapani A, Giannelli G, Maruccio G. Organs-on-chips technologies – A guide from disease models to opportunities for drug development. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 231:115271. [PMID: 37060819 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Current in-vitro 2D cultures and animal models present severe limitations in recapitulating human physiopathology with striking discrepancies in estimating drug efficacy and side effects when compared to human trials. For these reasons, microphysiological systems, organ-on-chip and multiorgans microdevices attracted considerable attention as novel tools for high-throughput and high-content research to achieve an improved understanding of diseases and to accelerate the drug development process towards more precise and eventually personalized standards. This review takes the form of a guide on this fast-growing field, providing useful introduction to major themes and indications for further readings. We start analyzing Organs-on-chips (OOC) technologies for testing the major drug administration routes: (1) oral/rectal route by intestine-on-a-chip, (2) inhalation by lung-on-a-chip, (3) transdermal by skin-on-a-chip and (4) intravenous through vascularization models, considering how drugs penetrate in the bloodstream and are conveyed to their targets. Then, we focus on OOC models for (other) specific organs and diseases: (1) neurodegenerative diseases with brain models and blood brain barriers, (2) tumor models including their vascularization, organoids/spheroids, engineering and screening of antitumor drugs, (3) liver/kidney on chips and multiorgan models for gastrointestinal diseases and metabolic assessment of drugs and (4) biomechanical systems recapitulating heart, muscles and bones structures and related diseases. Successively, we discuss technologies and materials for organ on chips, analyzing (1) microfluidic tools for organs-on-chips, (2) sensor integration for real-time monitoring, (3) materials and (4) cell lines for organs on chips. (Nano)delivery approaches for therapeutics and their on chip assessment are also described. Finally, we conclude with a critical discussion on current significance/relevance, trends, limitations, challenges and future prospects in terms of revolutionary impact on biomedical research, preclinical models and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Grazia Monteduro
- Omnics Research Group, Department of Mathematics and Physics "Ennio De Giorgi", University of Salento and Institute of Nanotechnology, CNR-Nanotec and INFN Sezione di Lecce, Via per Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Silvia Rizzato
- Omnics Research Group, Department of Mathematics and Physics "Ennio De Giorgi", University of Salento and Institute of Nanotechnology, CNR-Nanotec and INFN Sezione di Lecce, Via per Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Giusi Caragnano
- Omnics Research Group, Department of Mathematics and Physics "Ennio De Giorgi", University of Salento and Institute of Nanotechnology, CNR-Nanotec and INFN Sezione di Lecce, Via per Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Adriana Trapani
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Giannelli
- National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS "Saverio de Bellis", Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Maruccio
- Omnics Research Group, Department of Mathematics and Physics "Ennio De Giorgi", University of Salento and Institute of Nanotechnology, CNR-Nanotec and INFN Sezione di Lecce, Via per Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy.
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Kenney RM, Lee MC, Boyce MW, Sitte ZR, Lockett MR. Cellular Invasion Assay for the Real-Time Tracking of Individual Cells in Spheroid or Tumor-like Mimics. Anal Chem 2023; 95:3054-3061. [PMID: 36701161 PMCID: PMC10007898 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c05201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Cellular invasion is the gateway to metastasis, with cells moving from a primary tumor into neighboring regions of healthy tissue. Invasion assays provide a tractable experimental platform to quantitatively assess cellular movement in the presence of potential chemokines or inhibitors. Many such assays involve cellular movement from high cell densities to cell-free regions. To improve the physiological relevance of such assays, we developed an assay format to track cellular movement throughout a uniform density of cells. This assay format imparts diffusion-dominated environments along the channel, resulting in oxygen and nutrient gradients found in spheroids or poorly vascularized tumors. By incorporating oxygen- and pH-sensing films, we quantified spatial and temporal changes in the extracellular environment while simultaneously tracking the movement of a subset of cells engineered to express fluorescent proteins constitutively. Our results show the successful invasion into neighboring tissues likely arises from a small population with a highly invasive phenotype. These highly invasive cells continued to move throughout the 48 h experiment, suggesting they have stem-like or persister properties. Surprisingly, the distance these persister cells invaded was unaffected by the density of cells in the channel or the presence or absence of an oxygen gradient. While these datasets cannot determine if the invasive cells are inherent to the population or if diffusion-dominated environments promote them, they highlight the need for further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael M. Kenney
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290
| | - Maggie C. Lee
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290
| | - Matthew W. Boyce
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290
| | - Zachary R. Sitte
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290
| | - Matthew R. Lockett
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 450 West Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7295
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Prospects for hypoxia-based drug delivery platforms for the elimination of advanced metastatic tumors: From 3D modeling to clinical concepts. J Control Release 2023; 353:1002-1022. [PMID: 36516901 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Hypoxia is a unique characteristic of the solid tumor microenvironment. Hypoxia contributes to multi-drug resistance, metastasis and cancer relapse through numerous molecular pathways, but at the same time provides an opportunity for the development of novel drugs or modalities specifically targeting hypoxic tumor regions. Given the high significance of tumor hypoxia in therapeutic results, we here discuss a variety of hypoxia-adopted strategies, and their potential and utility in the treatment of deep-seated hypoxic tumor cells. We discuss the merits and demerits of these approaches, as well as their combination with other approaches such as photodynamic therapy. We also survey the currently available 3D hypoxia modeling systems, in particular organoid-based microfluidics. Finally, we discuss the potential and the current status of preclinical tumor hypoxia approaches in clinical trials for advanced cancer. We believe that multi-modal imaging and therapeutic hypoxia adopted drug delivery platforms could provide better efficacy and safety profiles, and more importantly personalized therapy. Determining the hypoxia status of tumors could offer a second chance for the clinical translation of hypoxia-based agents, such as hypoxia activated prodrugs (HAPs) from bench to bedside.
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Badr-Eldin SM, Aldawsari HM, Kotta S, Deb PK, Venugopala KN. Three-Dimensional In Vitro Cell Culture Models for Efficient Drug Discovery: Progress So Far and Future Prospects. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:926. [PMID: 36015074 PMCID: PMC9412659 DOI: 10.3390/ph15080926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite tremendous advancements in technologies and resources, drug discovery still remains a tedious and expensive process. Though most cells are cultured using 2D monolayer cultures, due to lack of specificity, biochemical incompatibility, and cell-to-cell/matrix communications, they often lag behind in the race of modern drug discovery. There exists compelling evidence that 3D cell culture models are quite promising and advantageous in mimicking in vivo conditions. It is anticipated that these 3D cell culture methods will bridge the translation of data from 2D cell culture to animal models. Although 3D technologies have been adopted widely these days, they still have certain challenges associated with them, such as the maintenance of a micro-tissue environment similar to in vivo models and a lack of reproducibility. However, newer 3D cell culture models are able to bypass these issues to a maximum extent. This review summarizes the basic principles of 3D cell culture approaches and emphasizes different 3D techniques such as hydrogels, spheroids, microfluidic devices, organoids, and 3D bioprinting methods. Besides the progress made so far in 3D cell culture systems, the article emphasizes the various challenges associated with these models and their potential role in drug repositioning, including perspectives from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaimaa M. Badr-Eldin
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (H.M.A.); (S.K.)
- Center of Excellence for Drug Research and Pharmaceutical Industries, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hibah M. Aldawsari
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (H.M.A.); (S.K.)
- Center of Excellence for Drug Research and Pharmaceutical Industries, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sabna Kotta
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (H.M.A.); (S.K.)
- Center of Excellence for Drug Research and Pharmaceutical Industries, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Pran Kishore Deb
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Philadelphia University, P.O. Box 1, Amman 19392, Jordan
| | - Katharigatta N. Venugopala
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Clinical Pharmacy, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia;
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4001, South Africa
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11
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Nahak BK, Mishra A, Preetam S, Tiwari A. Advances in Organ-on-a-Chip Materials and Devices. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2022; 5:3576-3607. [PMID: 35839513 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.2c00041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The organ-on-a-chip (OoC) paves a way for biomedical applications ranging from preclinical to clinical translational precision. The current trends in the in vitro modeling is to reduce the complexity of human organ anatomy to the fundamental cellular microanatomy as an alternative of recreating the entire cell milieu that allows systematic analysis of medicinal absorption of compounds, metabolism, and mechanistic investigation. The OoC devices accurately represent human physiology in vitro; however, it is vital to choose the correct chip materials. The potential chip materials include inorganic, elastomeric, thermoplastic, natural, and hybrid materials. Despite the fact that polydimethylsiloxane is the most commonly utilized polymer for OoC and microphysiological systems, substitute materials have been continuously developed for its advanced applications. The evaluation of human physiological status can help to demonstrate using noninvasive OoC materials in real-time procedures. Therefore, this Review examines the materials used for fabricating OoC devices, the application-oriented pros and cons, possessions for device fabrication and biocompatibility, as well as their potential for downstream biochemical surface alteration and commercialization. The convergence of emerging approaches, such as advanced materials, artificial intelligence, machine learning, three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting, and genomics, have the potential to perform OoC technology at next generation. Thus, OoC technologies provide easy and precise methodologies in cost-effective clinical monitoring and treatment using standardized protocols, at even personalized levels. Because of the inherent utilization of the integrated materials, employing the OoC with biomedical approaches will be a promising methodology in the healthcare industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bishal Kumar Nahak
- Institute of Advanced Materials, IAAM, Gammalkilsvägen 18, Ulrika 59053, Sweden
| | - Anshuman Mishra
- Institute of Advanced Materials, IAAM, Gammalkilsvägen 18, Ulrika 59053, Sweden
| | - Subham Preetam
- Institute of Advanced Materials, IAAM, Gammalkilsvägen 18, Ulrika 59053, Sweden
| | - Ashutosh Tiwari
- Institute of Advanced Materials, IAAM, Gammalkilsvägen 18, Ulrika 59053, Sweden
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12
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Xiang Y, Zheng G, Zhong J, Sheng J, Qin H. Advances in Renal Cell Carcinoma Drug Resistance Models. Front Oncol 2022; 12:870396. [PMID: 35619895 PMCID: PMC9128023 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.870396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common form of kidney cancer. Systemic therapy is the preferred method to eliminate residual cancer cells after surgery and prolong the survival of patients with inoperable RCC. A variety of molecular targeted and immunological therapies have been developed to improve the survival rate and prognosis of RCC patients based on their chemotherapy-resistant properties. However, owing to tumor heterogeneity and drug resistance, targeted and immunological therapies lack complete and durable anti-tumor responses; therefore, understanding the mechanisms of systemic therapy resistance and improving clinical curative effects in the treatment of RCC remain challenging. In vitro models with traditional RCC cell lines or primary cell culture, as well as in vivo models with cell or patient-derived xenografts, are used to explore the drug resistance mechanisms of RCC and screen new targeted therapeutic drugs. Here, we review the established methods and applications of in vivo and in vitro RCC drug resistance models, with the aim of improving our understanding of its resistance mechanisms, increasing the efficacy of combination medications, and providing a theoretical foundation for the development and application of new drugs, drug screening, and treatment guidelines for RCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yien Xiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Ge Zheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jianfeng Zhong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jiyao Sheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hanjiao Qin
- Department of Radiotherapy, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Microfluidics for 3D Cell and Tissue Cultures: Microfabricative and Ethical Aspects Updates. Cells 2022; 11:cells11101699. [PMID: 35626736 PMCID: PMC9139493 DOI: 10.3390/cells11101699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The necessity to improve in vitro cell screening assays is becoming ever more important. Pharmaceutical companies, research laboratories and hospitals require technologies that help to speed up conventional screening and therapeutic procedures to produce more data in a short time in a realistic and reliable manner. The design of new solutions for test biomaterials and active molecules is one of the urgent problems of preclinical screening and the limited correlation between in vitro and in vivo data remains one of the major issues. The establishment of the most suitable in vitro model provides reduction in times, costs and, last but not least, in the number of animal experiments as recommended by the 3Rs (replace, reduce, refine) ethical guiding principles for testing involving animals. Although two-dimensional (2D) traditional cell screening assays are generally cheap and practical to manage, they have strong limitations, as cells, within the transition from the three-dimensional (3D) in vivo to the 2D in vitro growth conditions, do not properly mimic the real morphologies and physiology of their native tissues. In the study of human pathologies, especially, animal experiments provide data closer to what happens in the target organ or apparatus, but they imply slow and costly procedures and they generally do not fully accomplish the 3Rs recommendations, i.e., the amount of laboratory animals and the stress that they undergo must be minimized. Microfluidic devices seem to offer different advantages in relation to the mentioned issues. This review aims to describe the critical issues connected with the conventional cells culture and screening procedures, showing what happens in the in vivo physiological micro and nano environment also from a physical point of view. During the discussion, some microfluidic tools and their components are described to explain how these devices can circumvent the actual limitations described in the introduction.
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14
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Lee YJ, Ahn YJ, Lee GJ. Cytotoxicity evaluation of sodium lauryl sulfate in a paper-based 3D cell culture system. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2022; 14:1755-1764. [PMID: 35355024 DOI: 10.1039/d2ay00161f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Because three-dimensional (3D) cell culture is more similar to in vivo cell microenvironments than two-dimensional (2D) cell culture, various 3D cell culture systems have been developed. Recently, paper has been used as a promising material for 3D cell culture and tissue models due to its flexibility, ease of manufacture, low cost, and widespread accessibility. In this study, we fabricated a paper-based 3D cell culture platform consisting of a hydrophilic region for cell attachment and a hydrophobic region printed with wax. Using this paper platform for 3D culture of L929 cells, we evaluated the cytotoxicity of a model substance, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), using water-soluble tetrazolium salt, Live/Dead, and luminescence assays. Then we compared those cytotoxicity results with results from a conventional 3D cell culture kit and 2D cell culture. We found that 3D cultured cells on paper responded more sensitively to SLS than 2D cultured cells, and the cytotoxicity of SLS to cells grown on the paper-based 3D cell culture platform was similar to that of cells grown using a commercially available 3D cell culture kit. Therefore, we expect that our paper-based 3D cell culture platform can be applied as a simple and facile tool for cell viability evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Ju Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Seoul 02447, Korea.
| | - Yong Jin Ahn
- Department of Medical Engineering, Kyung Hee University Graduate School, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Gi-Ja Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Seoul 02447, Korea.
- Department of Medical Engineering, Kyung Hee University Graduate School, Seoul 02447, Korea
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15
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Jia Y, Wei Z, Zhang S, Yang B, Li Y. Instructive Hydrogels for Primary Tumor Cell Culture: Current Status and Outlook. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2102479. [PMID: 35182456 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202102479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Primary tumor organoids (PTOs) growth in hydrogels have emerged as an important in vitro model that recapitulates many characteristics of the native tumor tissue, and have important applications in fundamental cancer research and for the development of useful therapeutic treatment. This paper begins with reviewing the methods of isolation of primary tumor cells. Then, recent advances on the instructive hydrogels as biomimetic extracellular matrix for primary tumor cell culture and construction of PTO models are summarized. Emerging microtechnology for growth of PTOs in microscale hydrogels and the applications of PTOs are highlighted. This paper concludes with an outlook on the future directions in the investigation of instructive hydrogels for PTO growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyang Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials College of Chemistry Jilin University 2699 Qianjin Street Changchun 130012 China
| | - Zhentong Wei
- Department of Oncologic Gynecology The First Hospital of Jilin University Changchun 130021 China
| | - Songling Zhang
- Department of Oncologic Gynecology The First Hospital of Jilin University Changchun 130021 China
| | - Bai Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials College of Chemistry Jilin University 2699 Qianjin Street Changchun 130012 China
- Joint Laboratory of Opto‐Functional Theranostics in Medicine and Chemistry The First Hospital of Jilin University Changchun 130021 China
| | - Yunfeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials College of Chemistry Jilin University 2699 Qianjin Street Changchun 130012 China
- Joint Laboratory of Opto‐Functional Theranostics in Medicine and Chemistry The First Hospital of Jilin University Changchun 130021 China
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16
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Application of Microfluidic Systems for Breast Cancer Research. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:mi13020152. [PMID: 35208277 PMCID: PMC8877872 DOI: 10.3390/mi13020152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control; breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States. Due to early screening and advancements in therapeutic interventions, deaths from breast cancer have declined over time, although breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death among women. Most deaths are due to metastasis, as cancer cells from the primary tumor in the breast form secondary tumors in remote sites in distant organs. Over many years, the basic biological mechanisms of breast cancer initiation and progression, as well as the subsequent metastatic cascade, have been studied using cell cultures and animal models. These models, although extremely useful for delineating cellular mechanisms, are poor predictors of physiological responses, primarily due to lack of proper microenvironments. In the last decade, microfluidics has emerged as a technology that could lead to a paradigm shift in breast cancer research. With the introduction of the organ-on-a-chip concept, microfluidic-based systems have been developed to reconstitute the dominant functions of several organs. These systems enable the construction of 3D cellular co-cultures mimicking in vivo tissue-level microenvironments, including that of breast cancer. Several reviews have been presented focusing on breast cancer formation, growth and metastasis, including invasion, intravasation, and extravasation. In this review, realizing that breast cancer can recur decades following post-treatment disease-free survival, we expand the discussion to account for microfluidic applications in the important areas of breast cancer detection, dormancy, and therapeutic development. It appears that, in the future, the role of microfluidics will only increase in the effort to eradicate breast cancer.
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17
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Singh M, Dahal A, Brastianos PK. Preclinical Solid Tumor Models to Study Novel Therapeutics in Brain Metastases. Curr Protoc 2021; 1:e284. [PMID: 34762346 PMCID: PMC8597918 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Metastases are the most common malignancy of the adult central nervous system and are becoming an increasingly troubling problem in oncology largely due to the lack of successful therapeutic options. The limited selection of treatments is a result of the currently poor understanding of the biological mechanisms of metastatic development, which in turn is difficult to achieve because of limited preclinical models that can accurately represent the clinical progression of metastasis. Described in this article are in vitro and in vivo model systems that are used to enhance the understanding of metastasis and to identify new therapies for the treatment of brain metastasis. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohini Singh
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Ashish Dahal
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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18
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Huang K, Castiaux A, Podicheti R, Rusch DB, Martin RS, Baker LA. A Hybrid Nanofiber/Paper Cell Culture Platform for Building a 3D Blood-brain Barrier Model. SMALL METHODS 2021; 5:2100592. [PMID: 34541301 PMCID: PMC8445000 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202100592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The blood brain barrier (BBB) protects the central nervous system from toxins and pathogens in the blood by regulating permeation of molecules through the barrier interface. In vitro BBB models described to date reproduce some aspects of BBB functionality, but also suffer from incomplete phenotypic expression of brain endothelial traits, difficulty in reproducibility and fabrication, or overall cost. To address these limitations, we describe a three-dimensional (3D) BBB model based on a hybrid paper/nanofiber scaffold. The cell culture platform utilizes lens paper as a framework to accommodate 3D culture of astrocytes. An electrospun nanofiber layer is coated onto one face of the paper to mimic the basement membrane and support growth of an organized two-dimensional layer of endothelial cells (ECs). Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived ECs and astrocytes are co-cultured to develop a human BBB model. Morphological and spatial organization of model are validated with confocal microscopy. Measurements of transendothelial resistance and permeability demonstrate the BBB model develops a high-quality barrier and responds to hyperosmolar treatments. RNA-sequencing shows introduction of astrocytes both regulates EC tight junction proteins and improves endothelial phenotypes related to vasculogenesis. This model shows promise as a model platform for future in vitro studies of the BBB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaixiang Huang
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University Bloomington, 800 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA
| | - Andre Castiaux
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Additive Manufacturing, Saint Louis University, 3501 Laclede Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, USA
| | - Ram Podicheti
- Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Indiana University Bloomington, 1001 East Third St., Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA
| | - Douglas B Rusch
- Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Indiana University Bloomington, 1001 East Third St., Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA
| | - R Scott Martin
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Additive Manufacturing, Saint Louis University, 3501 Laclede Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, USA
| | - Lane A Baker
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University Bloomington, 800 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA
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19
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Kim MH, Green SD, Lin C, Konig H. Engineering Tools for Regulating Hypoxia in Tumour Models. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:7581-7592. [PMID: 34213838 PMCID: PMC8358887 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Major advances in the field of genomic technologies have led to an improvement in cancer diagnosis, classification and prognostication. However, many cancers remain incurable due to the development of drug resistance, minimal residual disease (MRD) and disease relapse, highlighting an incomplete understanding of the mechanisms underlying these processes. In recent years, the impact of non-genetic factors on neoplastic transformations has increasingly been acknowledged, and growing evidence suggests that low oxygen (O2 ) levels (ie hypoxia) in the tumour microenvironment play a critical role in the development and treatment of cancer. As a result, there is a growing need to develop research tools capable of reproducing physiologically relevant O2 conditions encountered by cancer cells in their natural environments in order to gain in-depth insight into tumour cell metabolism and function. In this review, the authors highlight the importance of hypoxia in the pathogenesis of malignant diseases and provide an overview of novel engineering tools that have the potential to further drive this evolving, yet technically challenging, field of cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Hee Kim
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringIndiana University‐Purdue University IndianapolisIndianapolisINUS
| | - Steven D. Green
- Department of MedicineDivision of Hematology/OncologyIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisINUS
| | - Chien‐Chi Lin
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringIndiana University‐Purdue University IndianapolisIndianapolisINUS
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer CenterIndianapolisINUS
| | - Heiko Konig
- Department of MedicineDivision of Hematology/OncologyIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisINUS
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer CenterIndianapolisINUS
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20
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Hot or cold: Bioengineering immune contextures into in vitro patient-derived tumor models. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 175:113791. [PMID: 33965462 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In the past decade, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have proven to be tremendously effective for a subset of cancer patients. However, it is difficult to predict the response of individual patients and efforts are now directed at understanding the mechanisms of ICI resistance. Current models of patient tumors poorly recapitulate the immune contexture, which describe immune parameters that are associated with patient survival. In this Review, we discuss parameters that influence the induction of different immune contextures found within tumors and how engineering strategies may be leveraged to recapitulate these contextures to develop the next generation of immune-competent patient-derived in vitro models.
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21
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Liu P, Fu L, Song Z, Man M, Yuan H, Zheng X, Kang Q, Shen D, Song J, Li B, Chen L. Three dimensionally printed nitrocellulose-based microfluidic platform for investigating the effect of oxygen gradient on cells. Analyst 2021; 146:5255-5263. [PMID: 34324622 DOI: 10.1039/d1an00927c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
In this article, we present a novel nitrocellulose-based microfluidic chip with 3-dimensional (3D) printing technology to study the effect of oxygen gradient on cells. Compared with conventional polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chips of oxygen gradient for cell cultures that can only rely on fluorescence microscope analysis, this hybrid nitrocellulose-based microfluidic platform can provide a variety of analysis methods for cells, including flow cytometry, western blot and RT-PCR, because the nitrocellulose-based chips with cells can be taken out from the growth chambers of 3D printed microfluidic chip and then used for cell collection or lysis. These advantages allow researchers to acquire more information and data on the basic biochemical and physiological processes of cell life. The effect of oxygen gradient on the zebrafish cells (ZF4) was used as a model to show the performance and application of our platform. Hypoxia caused the increase of intercellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and accumulation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α). Hypoxia stimulated the transcription of hypoxia-responsive genes vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and induced cell cycle arrest of ZF4 cells. The established platform is able to obtain more information from cells in response to different oxygen concentration, which has potential for analyzing the cells under a variety of pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Liu
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China.
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22
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Fontana F, Marzagalli M, Sommariva M, Gagliano N, Limonta P. In Vitro 3D Cultures to Model the Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13122970. [PMID: 34199324 PMCID: PMC8231786 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13122970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Tumor stroma is known to significantly influence cancer initiation and progression. In the last decade, 3D cell cultures have shown potential in modeling the tumor microenvironment. This review summarizes the main features of current 3D models, shedding light on their importance in the study of cancer biology and treatment. Abstract It is now well established that the tumor microenvironment plays a key role in determining cancer growth, metastasis and drug resistance. Thus, it is fundamental to understand how cancer cells interact and communicate with their stroma and how this crosstalk regulates disease initiation and progression. In this setting, 3D cell cultures have gained a lot of interest in the last two decades, due to their ability to better recapitulate the complexity of tumor microenvironment and therefore to bridge the gap between 2D monolayers and animal models. Herein, we present an overview of the 3D systems commonly used for studying tumor–stroma interactions, with a focus on recent advances in cancer modeling and drug discovery and testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Fontana
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.M.); (P.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-02-503-18427
| | - Monica Marzagalli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.M.); (P.L.)
| | - Michele Sommariva
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 31, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.S.); (N.G.)
| | - Nicoletta Gagliano
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 31, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.S.); (N.G.)
| | - Patrizia Limonta
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.M.); (P.L.)
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23
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Almela T, Tayebi L, Moharamzadeh K. 3D Bioprinting for In Vitro Models of Oral Cancer: Toward Development and Validation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 22. [PMID: 34368488 DOI: 10.1016/j.bprint.2021.e00132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) of oral carcinomas has highly complex contents and a dynamic nature which is difficult to study using oversimplified two-dimensional (2D) cell culture systems. By contrast, three dimensional (3D) in vitro models such as spheroids, organoids, and scaffold-based constructs have been able to replicate tumors three-dimensionality and have allowed a better understanding of the role of various microenvironmental cues in the initiation and progression of cancer. However, the heterogeneity of TME cannot be fully reproduced by these traditional tissue engineering strategies since they are unable to control the organization of multiple cell types in a complex architecture. 3D bioprinting is an emerging field that can be leveraged to produce biomimetic and complex tissue structures. Bioprinting allows for controllable and precise placement of multicomponent bioinks composed of multiple biomaterials, different types of cells, and soluble factors according to the natural compartments of the target tissue, aiming to reproduce the equivalent of the complex tissue. As such, 3D bioprinting provides a unique opportunity to fabricate in vitro tumor models with a complexity similar to that of the in vivo oral carcinoma. This will facilitate a thorough investigation of cellular physiology, cancer progression, and anti-cancer drug screening with unprecedented control and reproducibility. In this review, we discuss the role of 3D bioprinting in reconstituting oral cancer, the prospects of application to fill the literature gap, and the challenges that need to be addressed in order to exploit this emerging technology for future work in oral cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thafar Almela
- College of Dentistry, University of Mosul, Mosul 41002, Iraq
| | - Lobat Tayebi
- School of Dentistry, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA
| | - Keyvan Moharamzadeh
- Hamdan Bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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24
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Lin D, Chen X, Lin Z, Lin J, Liu Y, Liu D. Paper-supported co-culture system for dynamic investigations of the lung-tropic migration of breast cancer cells. Biomed Mater 2021; 16:025028. [PMID: 33075760 DOI: 10.1088/1748-605x/abc28c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Tumor tropism metastasis is a multi-step process that involves interactions between tumor cells and the microenvironment. Due to the limitations of experimental techniques, current studies are not able to gain insight into the dynamic process of such tropism migration. To overcome this issue, we developed a paper-supported co-culture system for dynamic investigations of the lung-tropic migration of breast cancer cells. This co-culture system contains a tumor layer, a recruitment layer, and several invasion layers between these two parts. The tumor and recruitment layers are impregnated with breast cancer cells and lung cells, respectively. Stacking these layers forms a co-culture device that comprises interactions between breast cancer and lung, destacking such a device represents cancer cells at different stages of the migration process. Thus, the paper-supported co-culture system offers the possibility of investigating migration from temporal and spatial aspects. Invasion assays using the co-culture system showed that breast cancer cells induced lung fibroblasts to convert to cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and the CAFs, in turn, recruited breast cancer cells. During migration, the local invasion of the cancer cells is a collective behavior, while the long-distance migration comes from individual cell behaviors. Breast cancer cells experienced repetitive processes of migration and propagation, accompanied by epithelial-mesenchymal and mesenchymal-epithelial transitions, and changes in stemness and drug resistance. Based on these results, the lung-tropic migration of breast cancer is interpreted as a process of bilateral interaction with the local and host-organ microenvironment. The developed paper-supported co-culture system offers the possibility of dynamically investigating tropism migration under the pre-metastatic niche, thus providing an advantageous tool for studying tumor metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongguo Lin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510180, People's Republic of China
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25
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Ornell KJ, Mistretta KS, Ralston CQ, Coburn JM. Development of a stacked, porous silk scaffold neuroblastoma model for investigating spatial differences in cell and drug responsiveness. Biomater Sci 2021; 9:1272-1290. [PMID: 33336667 DOI: 10.1039/d0bm01153c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Development of in vitro, preclinical cancer models that contain cell-driven microenvironments remains a challenge. Engineering of millimeter-scale, in vitro tumor models with spatially distinct regions that can be independently assessed to study tumor microenvironments has been limited. Here, we report the use of porous silk scaffolds to generate a high cell density neuroblastoma (NB) model that can spatially recapitulate changes resulting from cell and diffusion driven changes. Using COMSOL modeling, a scaffold holder design that facilitates stacking of thin, 200 μm silk scaffolds into a thick, bulk millimeter-scale tumor model (2, 4, 6, and 8 stacked scaffolds) and supports cell-driven oxygen gradients was developed. Cell-driven oxygen gradients were confirmed through pimonidazole staining. Post-culture, the stacked scaffolds were separated for analysis on a layer-by-layer basis. The analysis of each scaffold layer demonstrated decreasing DNA and increasing expression of hypoxia related genes (VEGF, CAIX, and GLUT1) from the exterior scaffolds to the interior scaffolds. Furthermore, the expression of hypoxia related genes at the interior of the stacks was comparable to that of a single scaffold cultured under 1% O2 and at the exterior of the stacks was comparable to that of a single scaffold cultured under 21% O2. The four-stack scaffold model underwent further evaluation to determine if a hypoxia activated drug, tirapazamine, induced reduced cell viability within the internal stacks (region of reduced oxygen) as compared with the external stacks. Decreased DNA content was observed in the internal stacks as compared to the external stacks when treated with tirapazamine, which suggests the internal scaffold stacks had higher levels of hypoxia than the external scaffolds. This stacked silk scaffold system presents a method for creating a single culture model capable of generating controllable cell-driven microenvironments through different stacks that can be individually assessed and used for drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly J Ornell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USA.
| | - Katelyn S Mistretta
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USA.
| | - Coulter Q Ralston
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USA.
| | - Jeannine M Coburn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USA.
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26
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Liu MM, Liu H, Li SH, Zhong Y, Chen Y, Guo ZZ, Chen W, Lin XH, Lei Y, Liu AL. Integrated paper-based 3D platform for long-term cell culture and in situ cell viability monitoring of Alzheimer's disease cell model. Talanta 2021; 223:121738. [PMID: 33298264 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2020.121738] [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] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species including superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hydroxyl radicals, as a conflicting class of biological metabolites in living organism, act crucial effect on Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this work, a facile integrated platform composed of a paper-based three-dimension (3D) cell culture system and an electrochemical sensor was developed for the construction of AD cell model in third dimensional structure and in situ cell viability monitoring by H2O2 released from PC12 cells cultured on paper scaffold were divided into three groups containing control group, amyloid beta peptide 25-35 (Aβ25-35) group and Aβ25-35+curcumin (Aβ25-35+cur) group, respectively. In addition, the paper-based 3D platform displayed excellent properties, such as sensitivity, selectivity, reproducibility and stability. The levels of H2O2 expressed in PC12 cells of the three groups were monitored through a paper-based 3D platform. The viability of cells cultured on the 96-well plate was measured by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Results of this paper-based platform are consistent with those of MTT, both displaying improved cell viability and decreased H2O2 production in Aβ25-35+cur group compared to Aβ25-35 group, which indicates that curcumin has effective cytoprotection. The paper-based 3D platform provides a convenient, economic and universal platform for in situ cell activity monitoring by key small molecules released from living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Meng Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Higher Educational Key Laboratory for Nano Biomedical Technology of Fujian Province, Faculty of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Higher Educational Key Laboratory for Nano Biomedical Technology of Fujian Province, Faculty of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, China
| | - Shan-Hong Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Higher Educational Key Laboratory for Nano Biomedical Technology of Fujian Province, Faculty of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, China
| | - Yu Zhong
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Higher Educational Key Laboratory for Nano Biomedical Technology of Fujian Province, Faculty of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, China
| | - Yao Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Higher Educational Key Laboratory for Nano Biomedical Technology of Fujian Province, Faculty of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, China
| | - Zi-Zhen Guo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Higher Educational Key Laboratory for Nano Biomedical Technology of Fujian Province, Faculty of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Higher Educational Key Laboratory for Nano Biomedical Technology of Fujian Province, Faculty of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, China
| | - Xin-Hua Lin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Higher Educational Key Laboratory for Nano Biomedical Technology of Fujian Province, Faculty of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, China
| | - Yun Lei
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Higher Educational Key Laboratory for Nano Biomedical Technology of Fujian Province, Faculty of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, China.
| | - Ai-Lin Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Higher Educational Key Laboratory for Nano Biomedical Technology of Fujian Province, Faculty of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, China.
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27
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Tang R, Liu L, Li M, Yao X, Yang Y, Zhang S, Li F. Transparent Microcrystalline Cellulose/Polyvinyl Alcohol Paper as a New Platform for Three-Dimensional Cell Culture. Anal Chem 2020; 92:14219-14227. [PMID: 32962346 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c03458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Multilayered and stacked cellulose paper has emerged as a promising platform for construction of three-dimensional (3D) cell culture because of its low cost, good biocompatibility, and high porosity. However, its poor light transmission makes it challenging to directly and clearly monitor cell behaviors (e.g., growth and proliferation) on the paper-based platform using an optical microscope. In this work, we developed a transparent microcrystalline cellulose/polyvinyl alcohol (MCC/PVA) paper with irregular pores through dissolution and regeneration of microcrystalline nanocellulose, addition of a porogen reagent (NaCl), and subsequently dipping in PVA solutions. The transparent MCC paper displays high porosity (up to 90%), adjustable pore size (between 23 and 46 μm), large thickness (from 315 to 436 μm), and high light transmission under water (>95%). Through further modification of the transparent MCC paper with PVA, the obtained transparent MCC/PVA paper shows enhanced mechanical properties (dry and wet strengths), good hydrophilicity (with a contact angle of 70.8°), and improved biocompatibility (cell viability up to 90%). By stacking and destacking multiple layers of the transparent MCC/PVA paper, it has been used for both two-dimensional and three-dimensional cell culture platforms. The transparent MCC/PVA paper under water enables both direct observation of cell morphology by an optical microscope via naked eyes and fluorescence microscope after staining. We envision that the developed transparent MCC/PVA paper holds great potential for future applications in various bioanalytical and biomedical fields, such as drug screening, tissue engineering, and organ-on-chips.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruihua Tang
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, P. R. China.,National Demonstration Center for Experimental Light Chemistry Engineering Education, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, P. R. China.,The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P. R. China.,Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P. R. China.,Limerick Pulp and Paper Centre, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A3, Canada
| | - Lina Liu
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, P. R. China.,National Demonstration Center for Experimental Light Chemistry Engineering Education, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, P. R. China.,Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P. R. China.,Shaanxi Province Key Laboratory of Papermaking Technology and Specialty Paper Development, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Paper Based Functional Materials of China National Light Industry, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, P. R. China
| | - Min Li
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, P. R. China.,National Demonstration Center for Experimental Light Chemistry Engineering Education, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, P. R. China
| | - Xue Yao
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, P. R. China.,National Demonstration Center for Experimental Light Chemistry Engineering Education, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, P. R. China
| | - Yaowei Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P. R. China.,Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P. R. China
| | - Sufeng Zhang
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, P. R. China.,Shaanxi Province Key Laboratory of Papermaking Technology and Specialty Paper Development, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Paper Based Functional Materials of China National Light Industry, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, P. R. China
| | - Fei Li
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P. R. China.,Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P. R. China
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28
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Campbell SB, Wu Q, Yazbeck J, Liu C, Okhovatian S, Radisic M. Beyond Polydimethylsiloxane: Alternative Materials for Fabrication of Organ-on-a-Chip Devices and Microphysiological Systems. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2020; 7:2880-2899. [PMID: 34275293 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c00640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is the predominant material used for organ-on-a-chip devices and microphysiological systems (MPSs) due to its ease-of-use, elasticity, optical transparency, and inexpensive microfabrication. However, the absorption of small hydrophobic molecules by PDMS and the limited capacity for high-throughput manufacturing of PDMS-laden devices severely limit the application of these systems in personalized medicine, drug discovery, in vitro pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modeling, and the investigation of cellular responses to drugs. Consequently, the relatively young field of organ-on-a-chip devices and MPSs is gradually beginning to make the transition to alternative, nonabsorptive materials for these crucial applications. This review examines some of the first steps that have been made in the development of organ-on-a-chip devices and MPSs composed of such alternative materials, including elastomers, hydrogels, thermoplastic polymers, and inorganic materials. It also provides an outlook on where PDMS-alternative devices are trending and the obstacles that must be overcome in the development of versatile devices based on alternative materials to PDMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott B Campbell
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Qinghua Wu
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Joshua Yazbeck
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada
| | - Chuan Liu
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Sargol Okhovatian
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada
| | - Milica Radisic
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada.,Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada.,Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C4, Canada
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29
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Ding C, Chen X, Kang Q, Yan X. Biomedical Application of Functional Materials in Organ-on-a-Chip. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:823. [PMID: 32793573 PMCID: PMC7387427 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The organ-on-a-chip (OOC) technology has been utilized in a lot of biomedical fields such as fundamental physiological and pharmacological researches. Various materials have been introduced in OOC and can be broadly classified into inorganic, organic, and hybrid materials. Although PDMS continues to be the preferred material for laboratory research, materials for OOC are constantly evolving and progressing, and have promoted the development of OOC. This mini review provides a summary of the various type of materials for OOC systems, focusing on the progress of materials and related fabrication technologies within the last 5 years. The advantages and drawbacks of these materials in particular applications are discussed. In addition, future perspectives and challenges are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chizhu Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qinshu Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xianghua Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pig Precision Feeding and Feed Safety Technology, Wuhan, China
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30
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Nam H, Funamoto K, Jeon JS. Cancer cell migration and cancer drug screening in oxygen tension gradient chip. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2020; 14:044107. [PMID: 32742536 PMCID: PMC7375834 DOI: 10.1063/5.0011216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancer metastasis, which is prevalent in malignant tumors, is present in a variety of cases depending on the primary tumor and metastatic site. The cancer metastasis is affected by various factors that surround and constitute a tumor microenvironment. One of the several factors, oxygen tension, can affect cancer cells and induce changes in many ways, including motility, directionality, and viability. In particular, the oxygen tension gradient is formed within a tumor cluster and oxygen is lower toward the center of the cluster from the perivascular area. The simple and efficient designing of the tumor microenvironment using microfluidic devices enables the simplified and robust platform of the complex in vivo microenvironment while observing a clear cause-and-effect between the properties of cancer cells under oxygen tension. Here, a microfluidic device with five channels including a gel channel, media channels, and gas channels is designed. MDA-MB-231cells are seeded in the microfluidic device with hydrogel to simulate their three-dimensional movement in the body. The motility and directionality of the cancer cells under the normoxic and oxygen tension gradient conditions are compared. Also, the viability of the cancer cells is analyzed for each condition when anticancer drugs are applied. Unlike the normoxic condition, under the oxygen tension gradient, cancer cells showed directionality toward higher oxygen tension and decreased viability against the certain anticancer drug. The simplified design of the tumor microenvironment through microfluidic devices enables comprehension of the response of cancer cells to varying oxygen tensions and cancer drugs in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeono Nam
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, South Korea
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31
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McIntosh JC, Yang L, Wang T, Zhou H, Lockett MR, Oldenburg AL. Tracking the invasion of breast cancer cells in paper-based 3D cultures by OCT motility analysis. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 11:3181-3194. [PMID: 32637249 PMCID: PMC7316000 DOI: 10.1364/boe.382911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
3D paper-based cultures (PBCs) are easy-to-use and provide a biologically representative microenvironment. By stacking a sheet of cell-laden paper below sheets containing cell-free hydrogel, we form an assay capable of segmenting cells by the distance they invaded from the original cell-seeded layer. These invasion assays are limited to end-point analyses with fluorescence-based readouts due to the highly scattering nature of the paper scaffolds. Here we demonstrate that optical coherence tomography (OCT) can distinguish living cells from the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) or paper fibers based upon their intracellular motility amplitude (M). M is computed from fluctuation statistics of the sample, rejects shot noise, and is invariant to OCT signal attenuation. Using OCT motility analysis, we tracked the invasion of breast cancer cells over a 3-day period in 4-layer PBCs (160-300 µm thick) in situ. The cell population distributions determined with OCT are highly correlated with those obtained by fluorescence imaging, with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.903. The ability of OCT motility analysis to visualize live cells and quantify cell distributions in PBC assays in situ and longitudinally provides a novel means for understanding how chemical gradients within the tumor microenvironment affect cellular invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie C. McIntosh
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Co-first authors contributed equally and are listed alphabetically
| | - Lin Yang
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Co-first authors contributed equally and are listed alphabetically
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Haibo Zhou
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Matthew R. Lockett
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Amy L. Oldenburg
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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32
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Jiang H, Yang J, Wan K, Jiang D, Jin C. Miniaturized Paper-Supported 3D Cell-Based Electrochemical Sensor for Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide Detection. ACS Sens 2020; 5:1325-1335. [PMID: 32274922 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.9b02508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Sensitive detection of lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), which are present on the outer wall of Gram-negative bacteria, is important to reflect the degree of bacterial contamination in food. For indirect assessment of the LPS content, a miniaturized electrochemical cell sensor consisting of a screen-printed paper electrode, a three-dimensional cells-in-gels-in-paper culture system, and a conductive jacket device was developed for in situ detection of nitric oxide released from LPS-treated mouse macrophage cells (Raw264.7). Nafion/polypyrrole/graphene oxide with excellent selectivity, high conductivity, and good biocompatibility functionalized on the working electrode via electrochemical polymerization could enhance sensing. Raw264.7 cells encapsulated in the alginate hydrogel were immobilized on a Nafion/polypyrrole/graphene oxide/screen-printed carbon electrode in paper fibers as a biorecognition element. Differential impulse voltammetry was employed to record the current signal as-influenced by LPS. Results indicated that LPS from Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis caused a significant increase in peak current, varying from 1 × 10-2 to 1 × 104 ng/mL, dose-dependently. This assay had a detection limit of 3.5 × 10-3 ng/mL with a linear detection range of 1 × 10-2 to 3 ng/mL. These results were confirmed by analysis of nitric oxide released from Raw264.7 via the Griess method. The miniaturized sensor was ultimately applied to detect LPSs in fruit juice samples. The results indicated that the method exhibited high recovery and relative standard deviation lower than 2.65% and LPSs in samples contaminated with 102-105 CFU/mL bacteria could be detected, which proved the practical value of the sensor. Thus, a novel, low-cost, and highly sensitive approach for LPS detection was developed, providing a method to assess Gram-negative bacteria contamination in food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Jiang
- Nanjing Institute for Food and Drug Control, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210038, P. R. China
| | - Jun Yang
- Nanjing Institute for Food and Drug Control, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210038, P. R. China
| | - Kai Wan
- School of Food Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225127, P. R. China
| | - Donglei Jiang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Grain Circulation and Safety, and Key Laboratory of Grains and Oils Quality Control and Processing, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P. R. China
| | - Changhai Jin
- School of Food Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225127, P. R. China
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33
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Ledvina V, Klepárník K, Legartová S, Bártová E. A device for investigation of natural cell mobility and deformability. Electrophoresis 2020; 41:1238-1244. [PMID: 32358820 DOI: 10.1002/elps.201900357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
A microfluidic device made of polydimethylsiloxane was developed for continuous evaluation of natural migration mobility of many eukaryotic cells in relaxed and deformed state. The device was fabricated by standard photolithography and soft lithography techniques using the SU-8 3010 negative photoresist on a glass wafer as the master mold. The simple flow-free device exploits the chemotactic movement of cells through a set of mechanical barriers in the direction of concentration gradients of attractants. The barriers are formed by arrays of circular cross-section pillars with decreasing spacing 7, 5, and 3 μm. To pass through the obstacles, the cells are deformed and change their cytoskeletal architecture. The instantaneous migration velocities of cells are monitored in a time-lapse setup of the scanning confocal microscope. Thus, the cellular deformability and migratory activity can easily be evaluated. The functionality of the device was tested with model HeLa cells stably transfected with fluorescent Premo FUCCI Cell Cycle Sensor. The designed device has the potential to be implemented for testing the tendency of patients' tumors to metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vojtěch Ledvina
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Karel Klepárník
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Soňa Legartová
- Institute of the Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Bártová
- Institute of the Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
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34
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Integrated On-Chip 3D Vascular Network Culture under Hypoxia. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:mi11050475. [PMID: 32365889 PMCID: PMC7281659 DOI: 10.3390/mi11050475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
We developed a portable device made of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)/polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) for long-term 3D cell culture of vascular endothelial cells for the development of a vascular network and evaluated the device under different transitions between normoxia and hypoxia with good optical accessibility. The combination of a nested reservoir device and a bicarbonate/ascorbate buffer system accomplished on-chip incubation with 4.91 ± 0.86% pO2 and 5.19 ± 1.70% pCO2 for up to 10 days. Seventy-two hours of normoxic incubation preceding hypoxic culture increased the cell viability, network formation, and size and stability of the resulting lumens compared with those completely maintained in normoxia for the same total duration. We employed different parameters of the network (e.g., total mesh area, total length, number of branches, among others) for the comparison of different oxygen treatments in the device. The differential effect of hypoxic conditions based on the maturity of the vessels may be used as an external factor to improve vascular development in vitro.
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35
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A Relatively Small Gradient of Extracellular pH Directs Migration of MDA-MB-231 Cells In Vitro. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21072565. [PMID: 32272744 PMCID: PMC7177698 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21072565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hematogenous tumor metastasis begins with the invasion and spread of primary tumor cells in the local tissue leading to intravasation. We hypothesized that tumor cells might actively migrate toward intratumor vessels with the extracellular metabolic gradient acting as a guiding cue. Here, we determined in vitro whether the extracellular gradient of pH can act as a cue for directional migration in MDA-MB-231 cells. Cell migration was determined by the wound-healing assay under gradients of extracellular pH (~0.2 units/mm) and oxygen concentration (~6% O2/mm) that were produced by a microfluidic device, gap cover glass (GCG). Without GCG, the migration of cells was spatially homogeneous; the same number of cells migrated to the rectangular wound space from the left and right boundaries. In contrast, when GCG generated pH/O2 gradients across the wound space, the number of cells migrating to the wound space from the boundary with higher pH/O2 values was considerably decreased, indicating a preferential movement of cells toward the region of higher pH/O2 in the gradient. The addition of hepes in the extracellular medium abolished both the extracellular pH gradient and the directional cell migration under GCG. We conclude that relatively small gradients of pH in the extracellular medium compared to those found in Na+/H+ exchanger-driven cell migration were sufficient to guide MDA-MB-231 cells. The directional cell migration as guided by the metabolic gradient could effectively elevate the probability of intravasation and, ultimately, hematogenous metastasis.
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36
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Naik P, Jaitpal S, Paul D. The Resurgence of Paperfluidics: A new technology for cell, DNA, and blood analysis. IEEE NANOTECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE 2020. [DOI: 10.1109/mnano.2020.2966063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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37
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Wan L, Neumann CA, LeDuc PR. Tumor-on-a-chip for integrating a 3D tumor microenvironment: chemical and mechanical factors. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:873-888. [PMID: 32025687 PMCID: PMC7067141 DOI: 10.1039/c9lc00550a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Tumor progression, including metastasis, is significantly influenced by factors in the tumor microenvironment (TME) such as mechanical force, shear stress, chemotaxis, and hypoxia. At present, most cancer studies investigate tumor metastasis by conventional cell culture methods and animal models, which are limited in data interpretation. Although patient tissue analysis, such as human patient-derived xenografts (PDX), can provide important clinical relevant information, they may not be feasible for functional studies as they are costly and time-consuming. Thus, in vitro three-dimensional (3D) models are rapidly being developed that mimic TME and allow functional investigations of metastatic mechanisms and drug responses. One of those new 3D models is tumor-on-a-chip technology that provides a powerful in vitro platform for cancer research, with the ability to mimic the complex physiological architecture and precise spatiotemporal control. Tumor-on-a-chip technology can provide integrated features including 3D scaffolding, multicellular culture, and a vasculature system to simulate dynamic flow in vivo. Here, we review a select set of recent achievements in tumor-on-a-chip approaches and present potential directions for tumor-on-a-chip systems in the future for areas including mechanical and chemical mimetic systems. We also discuss challenges and perspectives in both biological factors and engineering methods for tumor-on-a-chip progress. These approaches will allow in the future for the tumor-on-a-chip systems to test therapeutic approaches for individuals through using their cancerous cells gathered through approaches like biopsies, which then will contribute toward personalized medicine treatments for improving their outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Wan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213 US.
| | - C A Neumann
- Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, Magee Womens Research Institute, 204 Craft Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213 US.
| | - P R LeDuc
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213 US.
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38
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Liu P, Li B, Fu L, Huang Y, Man M, Qi J, Sun X, Kang Q, Shen D, Chen L. Hybrid Three Dimensionally Printed Paper-Based Microfluidic Platform for Investigating a Cell's Apoptosis and Intracellular Cross-Talk. ACS Sens 2020; 5:464-473. [PMID: 32013403 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.9b02205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we first proposed a novel hybrid three-dimensional (3D) printed and paper-based microfluidic platform and applied it for investigating the cell's apoptosis and intracellular cross-talk. The fabrication of a 3D-printed microfluidic chip is much easier than polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chip and can be applied in many common labs without soft lithogrophy fabrication equipment. Moreover, 3D printing can be perfectly combined with paper-based chips that can provide 3D scaffold for cell culture and analysis. In addition, these paper chips are disposable after use, greatly reducing the experimental cost. We integrated "Christmas Tree" structure with the top layer of the 3D-printed microfluidic chip to generate a continuous concentration gradient, and the bottom layer contained paper-based chips as cell culture area. The two-layer structure allows the concentration gradient forming layer to be separated from the cell culture layer, which can simplify the planting of cells in the microfluidic chip and make sure the cells stay in the culture chambers and don't clog the microfluidic channels. Applying this hybrid platform, we examined the effect of H2S on cancer cells. Continuous exposure to a low concentration of H2S inhibited cancer cell SMMC-7721 proliferation by inducing cell apoptosis. We also found that two gaseous molecules H2S and NO have cross-talk in cancer cells; they formed bioactive intermediate polysulfides in cancer cells. It is expected that this novel hybrid 3D-printed and paper-based microfluidic platform will have widespread application prospects in cell investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Liu
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment Processes and Ecological Remediation, The Research Center for Coastal Environment Engineering and Technology, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Bowei Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment Processes and Ecological Remediation, The Research Center for Coastal Environment Engineering and Technology, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
- Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Longwen Fu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment Processes and Ecological Remediation, The Research Center for Coastal Environment Engineering and Technology, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
- Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Yan Huang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment Processes and Ecological Remediation, The Research Center for Coastal Environment Engineering and Technology, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Mingsan Man
- CAS Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment Processes and Ecological Remediation, The Research Center for Coastal Environment Engineering and Technology, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Ji Qi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment Processes and Ecological Remediation, The Research Center for Coastal Environment Engineering and Technology, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Xiyan Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment Processes and Ecological Remediation, The Research Center for Coastal Environment Engineering and Technology, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
- Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Qi Kang
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Dazhong Shen
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Lingxin Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment Processes and Ecological Remediation, The Research Center for Coastal Environment Engineering and Technology, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
- Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
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Rahneshin V, Farzad M, Azizi S, Panchapakesan B. Versatile high-performance inkjet-printed paper photo-actuators based on 2D materials. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2020; 31:025708. [PMID: 31609687 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/ab4776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we present high-performance and versatile inkjet-printed paper photo-actuators based on two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials. As a rapid fabrication method, inkjet printing of 2D materials is used to promptly fabricate photo-actuators in a bi-layer paper/polymer structure. Water-based and biocompatible inks based on graphene and molybdenum disulfide are developed based on liquid phase exfoliation and differential centrifugation technique. It is shown that incorporation of 2D materials with inkjet printing techniques and liquid phase exfoliation can lead to rapid fabrication of photo-actuators with huge opto-mechanical energy release and versatility with a broad range of applications due to specific design and methods presented in this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Rahneshin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609, United States of America
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40
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Boyce MW, Simke WC, Kenney RM, Lockett MR. Generating linear oxygen gradients across 3D cell cultures with block-layered oxygen controlled chips (BLOCCs). ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2020; 12:18-24. [PMID: 32190125 PMCID: PMC7079814 DOI: 10.1039/c9ay01690b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Oxygen is a transcriptional regulator responsible for tissue homeostasis and maintenance. Studies relating cellular phenotype with oxygen tension often use hypoxia chambers, which expose cells to a single, static oxygen tension. Despite their ease of use, these chambers are unable to replicate the oxygen gradients found in healthy and diseased tissues. Microfabricated devices capable of imposing an oxygen gradient across tissue-like structures are a promising tool for these studies, as they can provide a high density of information in a single experimental setup. We describe the fabrication and characterization of a modular device, which leverages the gas-permeability of silicone to impose gradients of oxygen across cell-containing regions, assembled by layering sheets of laser cut acrylic and silicone rubber. The silicone also acts as a barrier, separating the flowing gases from the cell culture medium, preventing evaporation or bubble formation in experiments that require prolonged periods of incubation. The acrylic components provide a rigid framework to provide a sterile culture environment. Using oxygen-sensing films, we show the device can support gradients of different ranges and steepness by simply changing the composition of the gases flowing through the silicone components of the BLOCC. Using a cell-based reporter assay, we demonstrate that cellular responses to hypoxia are proportional to oxygen tension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew W Boyce
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-3290, USA
| | - William C Simke
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-3290, USA
| | - Rachael M Kenney
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-3290, USA
| | - Matthew R Lockett
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, 125 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-3290, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 450 West Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7295, USA
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41
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Tobias F, McIntosh JC, LaBonia GJ, Boyce MW, Lockett MR, Hummon AB. Developing a Drug Screening Platform: MALDI-Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Paper-Based Cultures. Anal Chem 2019; 91:15370-15376. [PMID: 31755703 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b03536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Many potential chemotherapeutics fail to reach patients. One of the key reasons is that compounds are tested during the drug discovery stage in two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures, which are often unable to accurately model in vivo outcomes. Three-dimensional (3D) in vitro tumor models are more predictive of chemotherapeutic effectiveness than 2D cultures, and thus, their implementation during the drug screening stage has the potential to more accurately evaluate compounds earlier, saving both time and money. Paper-based cultures (PBCs) are an emerging 3D culture platform in which cells suspended in Matrigel are seeded into paper scaffolds and cultured to generate a tissue-like environment. In this study, we demonstrate the potential of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry imaging with PBCs (MALDI-MSI-PBC) as a drug screening platform. This method discriminated regions of the PBCs with and without cells and/or drugs, indicating that coupling PBCs with MALDI-MSI has the potential to develop rapid, large-scale, and parallel mass spectrometric drug screens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Tobias
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Comprehensive Cancer Center , The Ohio State University , Columbus , Ohio 43210-1132 , United States
| | - Julie C McIntosh
- Department of Chemistry , The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , North Carolina 27599 , United States
| | - Gabriel J LaBonia
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Harper Cancer Research Institute , University of Notre Dame , Notre Dame , Indiana 46556 , United States
| | - Matthew W Boyce
- Department of Chemistry , The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , North Carolina 27599 , United States
| | - Matthew R Lockett
- Department of Chemistry , The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , North Carolina 27599 , United States.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center , The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , North Carolina 27599 , United States
| | - Amanda B Hummon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Comprehensive Cancer Center , The Ohio State University , Columbus , Ohio 43210-1132 , United States
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Chowkwale M, Mahler GJ, Huang P, Murray BT. A multiscale in silico model of endothelial to mesenchymal transformation in a tumor microenvironment. J Theor Biol 2019; 480:229-240. [PMID: 31430445 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2019.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2018] [Revised: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Endothelial to mesenchymal transformation (EndMT) is a process in which endothelial cells gain a mesenchymal-like phenotype in response to mechanobiological signals that results in the remodeling or repair of underlying tissue. While initially associated with embryonic development, this process has since been shown to occur in adult tissue remodeling including wound healing, fibrosis, and cancer. In an attempt to understand the role of EndMT in cancer progression and metastasis, we present a multiscale, three-dimensional, in silico model. The model couples tissue level phenomena such as extracellular matrix remodeling, cellular level phenomena such as migration and proliferation, and chemical transport in the tumor microenvironment to mimic in vitro tissue models of the cancer microenvironment. The model is used to study the presence of EndMT-derived activated fibroblasts (EDAFs) and varying substrate stiffness on tumor cell migration and proliferation. The simulations accurately model the behavior of tumor cells under given conditions. The presence of EDAFs and/or an increase in substrate stiffness resulted in an increase in tumor cell activity. This model lays the foundation of further studies of EDAFs in a tumor microenvironment on a cellular and subcellular physiological level.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Chowkwale
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Binghamton University, PO Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
| | - G J Mahler
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Binghamton University, PO Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
| | - P Huang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Binghamton University, PO Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
| | - B T Murray
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Binghamton University, PO Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA.
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43
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Castiaux AD, Spence DM, Martin RS. Review of 3D Cell Culture with Analysis in Microfluidic Systems. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2019; 11:4220-4232. [PMID: 32051693 PMCID: PMC7015157 DOI: 10.1039/c9ay01328h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
A review with 105 references that analyzes the emerging research area of 3D cell culture in microfluidic platforms with integrated detection schemes. Over the last several decades a central focus of cell culture has been the development of better in vivo mimics. This has led to the evolution from planar cell culture to cell culture on 3D scaffolds, and the incorporation of cell scaffolds into microfluidic devices. Specifically, this review explores the incorporation of suspension culture, hydrogels scaffolds, paper-based scaffolds, and fiber-based scaffolds into microfluidic platforms. In order to decrease analysis time, simplify sample preparation, monitor key signaling pathways involved in cell-to-cell communication or cell growth, and combat the limitations of sample volume/ dilution seen in traditional assays, researchers have also started to focus on integrating detection schemes into the cell culture devices. This review will highlight the work that has been performed towards combining these techniques and will discuss potential future directions. It is clear that microfluidic-based 3D cell culture coupled with quantitative analysis can greatly improve our ability to mimic and understand in vivo systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andre D Castiaux
- Department of Chemistry, Saint Louis University, 3501 Laclede Ave., St. Louis, MO 63103
| | - Dana M Spence
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824
| | - R Scott Martin
- Department of Chemistry, Saint Louis University, 3501 Laclede Ave., St. Louis, MO 63103
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Cramer SM, Larson TS, Lockett MR. Tissue Papers: Leveraging Paper-Based Microfluidics for the Next Generation of 3D Tissue Models. Anal Chem 2019; 91:10916-10926. [PMID: 31356054 PMCID: PMC7071790 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b02102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Paper-based scaffolds support the three-dimensional culture of mammalian cells in tissue-like environments. These Tissue Papers, a name that highlights the use of materials obtained from (plant) tissue to generate newly functioning (human) tissue structures, are a promising analytical tool to quantify cellular responses in physiologically relevant extracellular gradients and coculture architectures. Here, we highlight current examples of Tissue Papers, commonly used methods of analysis, and current measurement challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina M. Cramer
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, United States
| | - Tyler S. Larson
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, United States
| | - Matthew R. Lockett
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan and Caudill Laboratories, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, United States
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7295, United States
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Shin S, Kwak H, Hyun J. Transparent cellulose nanofiber based open cell culture platform using matrix-assisted 3D printing. Carbohydr Polym 2019; 225:115235. [PMID: 31521297 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2019.115235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Carboxymethylated hydrophilic CNF (Hphil-CNF) was modified with methyltrimethoxysilane into hydrophobic CNF (Hphob-CNF) and used as a printing matrix. The Hphil-CNF hydrogel was printed at the surface of the Hphob-CNF hydrogel, forming an immiscible, distinct 3D structure. Fabrication of channel systems in the CNF platform was performed by matrix-assisted 3D printing of petroleum jelly ink in the Hphil-CNF-patterned Hphob-CNF hydrogel. After the dehydration process followed by removal of the ink from the CNF film, the CNF hydrogels became a dense platform embedding fluidic channels. The CNF platform exhibited selective diffusion of fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran from the channels in the Hphil-CNF patterns, indicating transport of bioactive molecules to cells cultured at the platform surface. The applicability of the open cell culture platform was investigated with A549 lung cancer cells by injecting cisplatin, a model drug into the channel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungchul Shin
- Department of Biosystems and Biomaterials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hojung Kwak
- Department of Biosystems and Biomaterials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinho Hyun
- Department of Biosystems and Biomaterials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea; Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
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Tian C, Tu Q, Liu W, Wang J. Recent advances in microfluidic technologies for organ-on-a-chip. Trends Analyt Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2019.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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47
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Fry RC, Bangma J, Szilagyi J, Rager JE. Developing novel in vitro methods for the risk assessment of developmental and placental toxicants in the environment. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2019; 378:114635. [PMID: 31233757 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2019.114635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
During pregnancy, the placenta is critical for the regulation of maternal homeostasis and fetal growth and development. Exposures to environmental chemicals during pregnancy can be detrimental to the health of the placenta and therefore adversely impact maternal and fetal health. Though research on placental-derived developmental toxicity is expanding, testing is limited by the resources required for traditional test methods based on whole animal experimentation. Alternative strategies utilizing in vitro methods are well suited to contribute to more efficient screening of chemical toxicity and identification of biological mechanisms underlying toxicity outcomes. This review aims to summarize methods that can be used to evaluate toxicity resulting from exposures during the prenatal period, with a focus on newer in vitro methods centered on placental toxicity. The following key aspects are reviewed: (i) traditional test methods based on animal developmental toxicity testing, (ii) in vitro methods using monocultures and explant models, as well as more recently developed methods, including co-cultures, placenta-on-a-chip, and 3-dimensional (3D) cell models, (iii) endpoints that are commonly measured using in vitro designs, and (iv) the translation of in vitro methods into chemical evaluations and risk assessment applications. We conclude that findings from in vitro placental models can contribute to the screening of potentially hazardous chemicals, elucidation of chemical mechanism of action, incorporation into adverse outcome pathways, estimation of doses eliciting toxicity, derivation of extrapolation factors, and characterization of overall risk of adverse outcomes, representing key components of chemical regulation in the 21st century.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca C Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Curriculum in Toxicology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jacqueline Bangma
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - John Szilagyi
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Julia E Rager
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Curriculum in Toxicology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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48
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Roy M, Finley SD. Metabolic reprogramming dynamics in tumor spheroids: Insights from a multicellular, multiscale model. PLoS Comput Biol 2019; 15:e1007053. [PMID: 31185009 PMCID: PMC6588258 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2018] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mathematical modeling provides the predictive ability to understand the metabolic reprogramming and complex pathways that mediate cancer cells’ proliferation. We present a mathematical model using a multiscale, multicellular approach to simulate avascular tumor growth, applied to pancreatic cancer. The model spans three distinct spatial and temporal scales. At the extracellular level, reaction diffusion equations describe nutrient concentrations over a span of seconds. At the cellular level, a lattice-based energy driven stochastic approach describes cellular phenomena including adhesion, proliferation, viability and cell state transitions, occurring on the timescale of hours. At the sub-cellular level, we incorporate a detailed kinetic model of intracellular metabolite dynamics on the timescale of minutes, which enables the cells to uptake and excrete metabolites and use the metabolites to generate energy and building blocks for cell growth. This is a particularly novel aspect of the model. Certain defined criteria for the concentrations of intracellular metabolites lead to cancer cell growth, proliferation or death. Overall, we model the evolution of the tumor in both time and space. Starting with a cluster of tumor cells, the model produces an avascular tumor that quantitatively and qualitatively mimics experimental measurements of multicellular tumor spheroids. Through our model simulations, we can investigate the response of individual intracellular species under a metabolic perturbation and investigate how that response contributes to the response of the tumor as a whole. The predicted response of intracellular metabolites under various targeted strategies are difficult to resolve with experimental techniques. Thus, the model can give novel predictions as to the response of the tumor as a whole, identifies potential therapies to impede tumor growth, and predicts the effects of those therapeutic strategies. In particular, the model provides quantitative insight into the dynamic reprogramming of tumor cells at the intracellular level in response to specific metabolic perturbations. Overall, the model is a useful framework to study targeted metabolic strategies for inhibiting tumor growth. Cancer cells expertly alter their metabolism in order to sustain growth, a hallmark of cancer. Quantitative details about this metabolic reprogramming are difficult to obtain without the use of predictive mathematical models. Here, we present a robust computational model of avascular tumor growth. The novel aspect of this work lies in the incorporation of a detailed model of the dynamics of metabolism within each individual cell, which directly influence growth of the multicellular tumor as a whole. We apply the model to simulate how the tumor grows in space and time and to predict how the tumor responds to targeted inhibition of specific intracellular metabolic reactions. Our results show, first-hand, the dynamic metabolic reprogramming that occurs in cancer cells. Specifically, the model provides insight into how the cells alter their metabolism to compensate for the loss of a nutrient by exploiting alternative pathways for continued tumor growth. Our work provides a quantitative tool for identifying the impact of cellular and sub-cellular features on the evolution of a tumor. This framework is useful for developing potential cancer therapies, complementing experimental studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahua Roy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Stacey D. Finley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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49
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Hol FJH, Whitesides GM, Dekker C. Bacteria-in-paper, a versatile platform to study bacterial ecology. Ecol Lett 2019; 22:1316-1323. [PMID: 31099139 PMCID: PMC6851840 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 01/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Habitat spatial structure has a profound influence on bacterial life, yet there currently are no low‐cost equipment‐free laboratory techniques to reproduce the intricate structure of natural bacterial habitats. Here, we demonstrate the use of paper scaffolds to create landscapes spatially structured at the scales relevant to bacterial ecology. In paper scaffolds, planktonic bacteria migrate through liquid‐filled pores, while the paper’s cellulose fibres serve as anchor points for sessile colonies (biofilms). Using this novel approach, we explore bacterial colonisation dynamics in different landscape topographies and characterise the community composition of Escherichia coli strains undergoing centimetre‐scale range expansions in habitats structured at the micrometre scale. The bacteria‐in‐paper platform enables quantitative assessment of bacterial community dynamics in complex environments using everyday materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix J H Hol
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.,Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, Delft, HZ, 2629, the Netherlands.,Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, 443 Via Ortega, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - George M Whitesides
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.,Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, 60 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Cees Dekker
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, Delft, HZ, 2629, the Netherlands
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50
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingbing Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and School of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Hong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Zhongze Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
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