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Ferreira M, Carvalho V, Ribeiro J, Lima RA, Teixeira S, Pinho D. Advances in Microfluidic Systems and Numerical Modeling in Biomedical Applications: A Review. MICROMACHINES 2024; 15:873. [PMID: 39064385 PMCID: PMC11279158 DOI: 10.3390/mi15070873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2024] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
The evolution in the biomedical engineering field boosts innovative technologies, with microfluidic systems standing out as transformative tools in disease diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring. Numerical simulation has emerged as a tool of increasing importance for better understanding and predicting fluid-flow behavior in microscale devices. This review explores fabrication techniques and common materials of microfluidic devices, focusing on soft lithography and additive manufacturing. Microfluidic systems applications, including nucleic acid amplification and protein synthesis, as well as point-of-care diagnostics, DNA analysis, cell cultures, and organ-on-a-chip models (e.g., lung-, brain-, liver-, and tumor-on-a-chip), are discussed. Recent studies have applied computational tools such as ANSYS Fluent 2024 software to numerically simulate the flow behavior. Outside of the study cases, this work reports fundamental aspects of microfluidic simulations, including fluid flow, mass transport, mixing, and diffusion, and highlights the emergent field of organ-on-a-chip simulations. Additionally, it takes into account the application of geometries to improve the mixing of samples, as well as surface wettability modification. In conclusion, the present review summarizes the most relevant contributions of microfluidic systems and their numerical modeling to biomedical engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Ferreira
- Center for Microelectromechanical Systems (CMEMS-UMinho), University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal; (M.F.); (D.P.)
| | - Violeta Carvalho
- Center for Microelectromechanical Systems (CMEMS-UMinho), University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal; (M.F.); (D.P.)
- LABBELS—Associate Laboratory, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal;
- MEtRICs, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal;
- ALGORITMI Center/LASI, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal
| | - João Ribeiro
- Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, 5300-052 Bragança, Portugal;
- Laboratório Associado para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha (SusTEC), Campus Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
- CIMO—Mountain Research Center, Campus Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
| | - Rui A. Lima
- MEtRICs, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal;
- CEFT—Transport Phenomena Research Center, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE—Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | | | - Diana Pinho
- Center for Microelectromechanical Systems (CMEMS-UMinho), University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal; (M.F.); (D.P.)
- LABBELS—Associate Laboratory, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal;
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Hervas-Raluy S, Wirthl B, Guerrero PE, Robalo Rei G, Nitzler J, Coronado E, Font de Mora Sainz J, Schrefler BA, Gomez-Benito MJ, Garcia-Aznar JM, Wall WA. Tumour growth: An approach to calibrate parameters of a multiphase porous media model based on in vitro observations of Neuroblastoma spheroid growth in a hydrogel microenvironment. Comput Biol Med 2023; 159:106895. [PMID: 37060771 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.106895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
To unravel processes that lead to the growth of solid tumours, it is necessary to link knowledge of cancer biology with the physical properties of the tumour and its interaction with the surrounding microenvironment. Our understanding of the underlying mechanisms is however still imprecise. We therefore developed computational physics-based models, which incorporate the interaction of the tumour with its surroundings based on the theory of porous media. However, the experimental validation of such models represents a challenge to its clinical use as a prognostic tool. This study combines a physics-based model with in vitro experiments based on microfluidic devices used to mimic a three-dimensional tumour microenvironment. By conducting a global sensitivity analysis, we identify the most influential input parameters and infer their posterior distribution based on Bayesian calibration. The resulting probability density is in agreement with the scattering of the experimental data and thus validates the proposed workflow. This study demonstrates the huge challenges associated with determining precise parameters with usually only limited data for such complex processes and models, but also demonstrates in general how to indirectly characterise the mechanical properties of neuroblastoma spheroids that cannot feasibly be measured experimentally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Hervas-Raluy
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Zaragoza, Aragon Institute for Engineering Research (I3A), Maria de Luna 3, Zaragoza, 50018, Spain.
| | - Barbara Wirthl
- Institute for Computational Mechanics, Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Engineering and Design, Department of Engineering Physics & Computation, Boltzmannstraße 15, Garching b. Munich, 85748, Germany
| | - Pedro E Guerrero
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Zaragoza, Aragon Institute for Engineering Research (I3A), Maria de Luna 3, Zaragoza, 50018, Spain
| | - Gil Robalo Rei
- Institute for Computational Mechanics, Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Engineering and Design, Department of Engineering Physics & Computation, Boltzmannstraße 15, Garching b. Munich, 85748, Germany
| | - Jonas Nitzler
- Institute for Computational Mechanics, Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Engineering and Design, Department of Engineering Physics & Computation, Boltzmannstraße 15, Garching b. Munich, 85748, Germany; Professorship for Data-Driven Materials Modeling, Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Engineering and Design, Department of Engineering Physics & Computation, Boltzmannstraße 15, Garching b. Munich, 85748, Germany
| | - Esther Coronado
- Clinical and Translational Oncology Research Group, Instituto de Investigación La Fe,, Fernando Abril Martorell 106, Valencia, 46026, Spain
| | - Jaime Font de Mora Sainz
- Clinical and Translational Oncology Research Group, Instituto de Investigación La Fe,, Fernando Abril Martorell 106, Valencia, 46026, Spain
| | - Bernhard A Schrefler
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padua, Marzolo 9, Padua, 35131, Italy; Institute for Advanced Study, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstraße 15, Garching b. Munich, 85748, Germany
| | - Maria Jose Gomez-Benito
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Zaragoza, Aragon Institute for Engineering Research (I3A), Maria de Luna 3, Zaragoza, 50018, Spain
| | - Jose Manuel Garcia-Aznar
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Zaragoza, Aragon Institute for Engineering Research (I3A), Maria de Luna 3, Zaragoza, 50018, Spain
| | - Wolfgang A Wall
- Institute for Computational Mechanics, Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Engineering and Design, Department of Engineering Physics & Computation, Boltzmannstraße 15, Garching b. Munich, 85748, Germany
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Besanjideh M, Shamloo A, Hannani SK. Evaluating the reliability of tumour spheroid-on-chip models for replicating intratumoural drug delivery: considering the role of microfluidic parameters. J Drug Target 2023; 31:179-193. [PMID: 36036226 DOI: 10.1080/1061186x.2022.2119478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Several tumour spheroid-on-chip models have already been proposed in the literature to conduct high throughput drug screening assays. The microfluidic configurations in these models generally depend on the strategies adopted for spheroid formation and entrapment. However, it is not clear how successful they are to mimic in vivo transport mechanisms. In this study, drug transport in different tumour spheroid-on-chip models is numerically investigated under static and dynamic conditions using porous media theory. Moreover, the treatment of a solid tumour at the initial stage of development is modelled using bolus injection and continuous infusion methods. Then, the results of tumour spheroid-on-chip, including drug concentration, cell viability, as well as pressure and fluid shear stress distributions, are compared with those of the solid tumour, assuming identical transport properties in all models. Finally, a new configuration of the microfluidic device along with the optimal drug concentrations is proposed, which can well imitate a given in vivo situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Besanjideh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.,Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Shamloo
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
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Pan X, Li J, Li W, Wang H, Durisic N, Li Z, Feng Y, Liu Y, Zhao CX, Wang T. Axons-on-a-chip for mimicking non-disruptive diffuse axonal injury underlying traumatic brain injury. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:4541-4555. [PMID: 36318066 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00730d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is the most severe pathological feature of traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, how primary axonal injury is induced by transient mechanical impacts remains unknown, mainly due to the low temporal and spatial resolution of medical imaging approaches. Here we established an axon-on-a-chip (AoC) model for mimicking DAI and monitoring instant cellular responses. Integrating computational fluid dynamics and microfluidic techniques, DAI was induced by injecting a precisely controlled micro-flux in the transverse direction. The clear correlation between the flow speed of injecting flux and the severity of DAI was elucidated. We next used the AoC to investigate the instant intracellular responses underlying DAI and found that the dynamic formation of focal axonal swellings (FAS) accompanied by Ca2+ surge occurs during the flux. Surprisingly, periodic axonal cytoskeleton disruption also occurs rapidly after the flux. These instant injury responses are spatially restricted to the fluxed axon, not affecting the overall viability of the neuron in the acute stage. Compatible with high-resolution live microscopy, the AoC provides a versatile system to identify early mechanisms underlying DAI, offering a platform for screening effective treatments to alleviate TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaorong Pan
- The Brain Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
| | - Jie Li
- Division of Chemistry and Physical Biology, School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Wei Li
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Haofei Wang
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Nela Durisic
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Zhenyu Li
- The Brain Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
| | - Yu Feng
- The Brain Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
| | - Yifan Liu
- Division of Chemistry and Physical Biology, School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Chun-Xia Zhao
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
| | - Tong Wang
- The Brain Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
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Recent Development of Drug Delivery Systems through Microfluidics: From Synthesis to Evaluation. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14020434. [PMID: 35214166 PMCID: PMC8880124 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14020434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Conventional drug administration usually faces the problems of degradation and rapid excretion when crossing many biological barriers, leading to only a small amount of drugs arriving at pathological sites. Therapeutic drugs delivered by drug delivery systems to the target sites in a controlled manner greatly enhance drug efficacy, bioavailability, and pharmacokinetics with minimal side effects. Due to the distinct advantages of microfluidic techniques, microfluidic setups provide a powerful tool for controlled synthesis of drug delivery systems, precisely controlled drug release, and real-time observation of drug delivery to the desired location at the desired rate. In this review, we present an overview of recent advances in the preparation of nano drug delivery systems and carrier-free drug delivery microfluidic systems, as well as the construction of in vitro models on-a-chip for drug efficiency evaluation of drug delivery systems. We firstly introduce the synthesis of nano drug delivery systems, including liposomes, polymers, and inorganic compounds, followed by detailed descriptions of the carrier-free drug delivery system, including micro-reservoir and microneedle drug delivery systems. Finally, we discuss in vitro models developed on microfluidic devices for the evaluation of drug delivery systems, such as the blood–brain barrier model, vascular model, small intestine model, and so on. The opportunities and challenges of the applications of microfluidic platforms in drug delivery systems, as well as their clinical applications, are also discussed.
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Hajari MA, Baheri Islami S, Chen X. A numerical study on tumor-on-chip performance and its optimization for nanodrug-based combination therapy. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2021; 20:983-1002. [PMID: 33521884 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-021-01426-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Microfluidic devices, such as the tumor-on-a-chip (ToC), allow for the delivery of multiple drugs as desired for various therapies such as cancer treatment. Due to the complexity involved, visualizing, and gaining knowledge of the performance of such devices through experimentation alone is difficult if not impossible. In this paper, we performed a numerical simulation study on ToC performance, which focuses on the ability to combine multiple nanodrugs and optimized ToC performance. The numerical simulations of the chip performance were performed based on the typical chip design and operating parameters, as well as the established governing equations, boundary conditions, and fluid-structure interaction. The effect of cell injection time and position, inlet flow rate, number of inlets, medium viscosity, and cell concentration on the chip performance in terms of shear stress and cell distribution were examined. The results illustrate the profound effect of operation parameters, thus allowing for rigorously determining operational parameters to prevent spheroids ejection from microwells and to restrict the shear stresses within a physiological range. Also, the results show that triple-inlets can increase the uniformity of cell distribution in comparison with single or double inlets. Based on the simulation results, the architecture of the primary ToC was further optimized, resulting in a novel design that enables applying multiple, yet simultaneous, nanodrugs with optimal drug combination as desired for an individual patient. Furthermore, our simulations on the optimized chip showed a uniform cell distribution required for uniform-sized tumor spheroids generation, and complete medium exchange. Taken together, this study not only illustrates that numerical simulations are effective to visualize the ToCs performance, but also develops a novel ToC design optimized for nanodrug-based combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sima Baheri Islami
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Mechanical Engineering and Division of Biomedical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Xiongbiao Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Division of Biomedical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
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Duarte Campos DF, De Laporte L. Digitally Fabricated and Naturally Augmented In Vitro Tissues. Adv Healthc Mater 2021; 10:e2001253. [PMID: 33191651 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202001253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Human in vitro tissues are extracorporeal 3D cultures of human cells embedded in biomaterials, commonly hydrogels, which recapitulate the heterogeneous, multiscale, and architectural environment of the human body. Contemporary strategies used in 3D tissue and organ engineering integrate the use of automated digital manufacturing methods, such as 3D printing, bioprinting, and biofabrication. Human tissues and organs, and their intra- and interphysiological interplay, are particularly intricate. For this reason, attentiveness is rising to intersect materials science, medicine, and biology with arts and informatics. This report presents advances in computational modeling of bioink polymerization and its compatibility with bioprinting, the use of digital design and fabrication in the development of fluidic culture devices, and the employment of generative algorithms for modeling the natural and biological augmentation of in vitro tissues. As a future direction, the use of serially linked in vitro tissues as human body-mimicking systems and their application in drug pharmacokinetics and metabolism, disease modeling, and diagnostics are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela F. Duarte Campos
- Department of Advanced Materials for Biomedicine Institute of Applied Medical Engineering RWTH Aachen University Aachen 52074 Germany
| | - Laura De Laporte
- Department of Advanced Materials for Biomedicine Institute of Applied Medical Engineering RWTH Aachen University Aachen 52074 Germany
- DWI—Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Aachen 52074 Germany
- Department of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry RWTH Aachen University Aachen 52074 Germany
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Wang HF, Liu Y, Wang T, Yang G, Zeng B, Zhao CX. Tumor-Microenvironment-on-a-Chip for Evaluating Nanoparticle-Loaded Macrophages for Drug Delivery. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2020; 6:5040-5050. [DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c00650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Fei Wang
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Yun Liu
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Tong Wang
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Guangze Yang
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Bijun Zeng
- Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Chun-Xia Zhao
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
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