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Ali AS, Wu D, Bannach-Brown A, Dhamrait D, Berg J, Tolksdorf B, Lichtenstein D, Dressler C, Braeuning A, Kurreck J, Hülsemann M. 3D bioprinting of liver models: A systematic scoping review of methods, bioinks, and reporting quality. Mater Today Bio 2024; 26:100991. [PMID: 38558773 PMCID: PMC10978534 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2024.100991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Effective communication is crucial for broad acceptance and applicability of alternative methods in 3R biomedical research and preclinical testing. 3D bioprinting is used to construct intricate biological structures towards functional liver models, specifically engineered for deployment as alternative models in drug screening, toxicological investigations, and tissue engineering. Despite a growing number of reviews in this emerging field, a comprehensive study, systematically assessing practices and reporting quality for bioprinted liver models is missing. Methods In this systematic scoping review we systematically searched MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid) and BioRxiv for studies published prior to June 2nd, 2022. We extracted data on methodological conduct, applied bioinks, the composition of the printed model, performed experiments and model applications. Records were screened for eligibility and data were extracted from included articles by two independent reviewers from a panel of seven domain experts specializing in bioprinting and liver biology. We used RAYYAN for the screening process and SyRF for data extraction. We used R for data analysis, and R and Graphpad PRISM for visualization. Results Through our systematic database search we identified 1042 records, from which 63 met the eligibility criteria for inclusion in this systematic scoping review. Our findings revealed that extrusion-based printing, in conjunction with bioinks composed of natural components, emerged as the predominant printing technique in the bioprinting of liver models. Notably, the HepG2 hepatoma cell line was the most frequently employed liver cell type, despite acknowledged limitations. Furthermore, 51% of the printed models featured co-cultures with non-parenchymal cells to enhance their complexity. The included studies offered a variety of techniques for characterizing these liver models, with their primary application predominantly focused on toxicity testing. Among the frequently analyzed liver markers, albumin and urea stood out. Additionally, Cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms, primarily CYP3A and CYP1A, were assessed, and select studies employed nuclear receptor agonists to induce CYP activity. Conclusion Our systematic scoping review offers an evidence-based overview and evaluation of the current state of research on bioprinted liver models, representing a promising and innovative technology for creating alternative organ models. We conducted a thorough examination of both the methodological and technical facets of model development and scrutinized the reporting quality within the realm of bioprinted liver models. This systematic scoping review can serve as a valuable template for systematically evaluating the progress of organ model development in various other domains. The transparently derived evidence presented here can provide essential support to the research community, facilitating the adaptation of technological advancements, the establishment of standards, and the enhancement of model robustness. This is particularly crucial as we work toward the long-term objective of establishing new approach methods as reliable alternatives to animal testing, with extensive and versatile applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed S.M. Ali
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany
| | - Dongwei Wu
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexandra Bannach-Brown
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) @Charité, QUEST Center for Responsible Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Diyal Dhamrait
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) @Charité, QUEST Center for Responsible Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Johanna Berg
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany
| | - Beatrice Tolksdorf
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany
| | - Dajana Lichtenstein
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Department Food Safety, Berlin, Germany
| | - Corinna Dressler
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Medical Library, Germany
| | - Albert Braeuning
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Department Food Safety, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jens Kurreck
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany
| | - Maren Hülsemann
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) @Charité, QUEST Center for Responsible Research, Berlin, Germany
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Joshi P, Kang SY, Acharya P, Sidhpura D, Lee MY. High-throughput assessment of metabolism-mediated neurotoxicity by combining 3D-cultured neural stem cells and liver cell spheroids. Toxicol In Vitro 2023; 93:105688. [PMID: 37660999 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2023.105688] [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] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Despite the fact that biotransformation in the liver plays an important role in the augmented toxicity and detoxification of chemicals, relatively little efforts have been made to incorporate biotransformation into in vitro neurotoxicity testing. Conventional in vitro systems for neurotoxicity tests lack the capability of investigating the qualitative and quantitative differences between parent chemicals and their metabolites in the human body. Therefore, there is a need for an in vitro toxicity screening system that can incorporate hepatic biotransformation of chemicals and predict the susceptibility of their metabolites to induce neurotoxicity. To address this need, we adopted 3D cultures of metabolically competent HepaRG cell line with ReNcell VM and established a high-throughput, metabolism-mediated neurotoxicity testing system. Briefly, spheroids of HepaRG cells were generated in an ultralow attachment (ULA) 384-well plate while 3D-cultured ReNcell VM was established on a 384-pillar plate with sidewalls and slits (384PillarPlate). Metabolically sensitive test compounds were added in the ULA 384-well plate with HepaRG spheroids and coupled with 3D-cultured ReNcell VM on the 384PillarPlate, which allowed us to generate metabolites in situ by HepaRG cells and test them against neural stem cells. We envision that this approach could be potentially adopted in pharmaceutical and chemical industries when high-throughput screening (HTS) is necessary to assess neurotoxicity of compounds and their metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pranav Joshi
- Bioprinting Laboratories Inc., 12200 Ford Road, Dallas, TX 75234, United States of America
| | - Soo-Yeon Kang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, 3940 North Elm Street, Denton, TX 76207, United States of America
| | - Prabha Acharya
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, 3940 North Elm Street, Denton, TX 76207, United States of America
| | - Darshita Sidhpura
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, 3940 North Elm Street, Denton, TX 76207, United States of America
| | - Moo-Yeal Lee
- Bioprinting Laboratories Inc., 12200 Ford Road, Dallas, TX 75234, United States of America; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, 3940 North Elm Street, Denton, TX 76207, United States of America.
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Singh N, Patel K, Navalkar A, Kadu P, Datta D, Chatterjee D, Mukherjee S, Shaw R, Gahlot N, Shaw A, Jadhav S, Maji SK. Amyloid fibril-based thixotropic hydrogels for modeling of tumor spheroids in vitro. Biomaterials 2023; 295:122032. [PMID: 36791521 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122032] [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: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Biomaterials mimicking extracellular matrices (ECM) for three-dimensional (3D) cultures have gained immense interest in tumor modeling and in vitro organ development. Here, we introduce a new class of amyloid fibril-based peptide hydrogels as a versatile biomimetic ECM scaffold for 3D cell culture and homogenous tumor spheroid modeling. We show that these amyloid fibril-based hydrogels are thixotropic and allow cancer cell adhesion, proliferation, and migration. All seven designed hydrogels support 3D cell culture with five different cancer cell lines forming spheroid with necrotic core and upregulation of the cancer biomarkers. We further developed the homogenous, single spheroid using the drop cast method and the data suggest that all hydrogels support the tumor spheroid formation but with different necrotic core diameters. The detailed gene expression analysis of MCF7 spheroid by microarray suggested the involvement of pro-oncogenes and significant regulatory pathways responsible for tumor spheroid formation. Further, using breast tumor tissue from a mouse xenograft model, we show that selected amyloid hydrogels support the formation of tumor spheroids with a well-defined necrotic core, cancer-associated gene expression, higher drug resistance, and tumor heterogeneity reminiscent of the original tumor. Altogether, we have developed an easy-to-use, rapid, cost-effective, and scalable platform for generating in vitro cancer models for the screening of anti-cancer therapeutics and developing personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Namrata Singh
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Komal Patel
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Ambuja Navalkar
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Pradeep Kadu
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Debalina Datta
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Debdeep Chatterjee
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Semanti Mukherjee
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Ranjit Shaw
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Nitisha Gahlot
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Abhishek Shaw
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | | | - Samir K Maji
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India.
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Optimization of 3D-aggregated spheroid model (3D-ASM) for selecting high efficacy drugs. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18937. [PMID: 36344810 PMCID: PMC9640609 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23474-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Various three-dimensional (3D) cell culture methods have been developed to implement tumor models similar to in vivo. However, the conventional 3D cell culture method has limitations such as difficulty in using an extracellular matrix (ECM), low experimental reproducibility, complex 3D cell culture protocol, and difficulty in applying to high array plates such as 96- or 384-plates. Therefore, detailed protocols related to robust 3D-aggregated spheroid model (3D-ASM) production were optimized and proposed. A specially designed wet chamber was used to implement 3D-ASM using the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines, and the conditions were established for the icing step to aggregate the cells in one place and optimized ECM gelation step. Immunofluorescence (IF) staining is mainly used to simultaneously analyze drug efficacy and changes in drug-target biomarkers. By applying the IF staining method to the 3D-ASM model, confocal microscopy imaging and 3D deconvolution image analysis were also successfully performed. Through a comparative study of drug response with conventional 2D-high throughput screening (HTS), the 3D-HTS showed a more comprehensive range of drug efficacy analyses for HCC cell lines and enabled selective drug efficacy analysis for the FDA-approved drug sorafenib. This suggests that increased drug resistance under 3D-HTS conditions does not reduce the analytical discrimination of drug efficacy, also drug efficacy can be analyzed more selectively compared to the conventional 2D-HTS assay. Therefore, the 3D-HTS-based drug efficacy analysis method using an automated 3D-cell spotter/scanner, 384-pillar plate/wet chamber, and the proposed 3D-ASM fabrication protocol is a very suitable platform for analyzing target drug efficacy in HCC cells.
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Piossek F, Beneke S, Schlichenmaier N, Mucic G, Drewitz S, Dietrich DR. Physiological oxygen and co-culture with human fibroblasts facilitate in vivo-like properties in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells. Chem Biol Interact 2022; 361:109959. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2022.109959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Wang Y, Jeon H. 3D cell cultures toward quantitative high-throughput drug screening. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2022; 43:569-581. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2022.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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Luo L, Ma Y, Zheng Y, Su J, Huang G. Application Progress of Organoids in Colorectal Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:815067. [PMID: 35273961 PMCID: PMC8902504 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.815067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, colorectal cancer is still the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality, and the incidence is rising. It is a long time since the researchers used cancer cell lines and animals as the study subject. However, these models possess various limitations to reflect the cancer progression in the human body. Organoids have more clinical significance than cell lines, and they also bridge the gap between animal models and humans. Patient-derived organoids are three-dimensional cultures that simulate the tumor characteristics in vivo and recapitulate tumor cell heterogeneity. Therefore, the emergence of colorectal cancer organoids provides an unprecedented opportunity for colorectal cancer research. It retains the molecular and cellular composition of the original tumor and has a high degree of homology and complexity with patient tissues. Patient-derived colorectal cancer organoids, as personalized tumor organoids, can more accurately simulate colorectal cancer patients’ occurrence, development, metastasis, and predict drug response in colorectal cancer patients. Colorectal cancer organoids show great potential for application, especially preclinical drug screening and prediction of patient response to selected treatment options. Here, we reviewed the application of colorectal cancer organoids in disease model construction, basic biological research, organoid biobank construction, drug screening and personalized medicine, drug development, drug toxicity and safety, and regenerative medicine. In addition, we also displayed the current limitations and challenges of organoids and discussed the future development direction of organoids in combination with other technologies. Finally, we summarized and analyzed the current clinical trial research of organoids, especially the clinical trials of colorectal cancer organoids. We hoped to lay a solid foundation for organoids used in colorectal cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianxiang Luo
- The Marine Biomedical Research Institute, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China.,The Marine Biomedical Research Institute of Guangdong Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang, China.,Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhanjiang), Zhanjiang, China
| | - Yucui Ma
- The Marine Biomedical Research Institute, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Yilin Zheng
- Clinical Research Center, Shantou Central Hospital, Shantou, China
| | - Jiating Su
- The First Clinical College, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Guoxin Huang
- Clinical Research Center, Shantou Central Hospital, Shantou, China
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8
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Decarli MC, de Castro MV, Nogueira JA, Nagahara MHT, Westin CB, de Oliveira ALR, Silva JVL, Moroni L, Mota C, Moraes ÂM. Development of a device useful to reproducibly produce large quantities of viable and uniform stem cell spheroids with controlled diameters. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2022; 135:112685. [DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2022.112685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Dudman J, Ferreira AM, Gentile P, Wang X, Dalgarno K. Microvalve Bioprinting of MSC-Chondrocyte Co-Cultures. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123329. [PMID: 34943837 PMCID: PMC8699323 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent improvements within the fields of high-throughput screening and 3D tissue culture have provided the possibility of developing in vitro micro-tissue models that can be used to study diseases and screen potential new therapies. This paper reports a proof-of-concept study on the use of microvalve-based bioprinting to create laminar MSC-chondrocyte co-cultures to investigate whether the use of MSCs in ACI procedures would stimulate enhanced ECM production by chondrocytes. Microvalve-based bioprinting uses small-scale solenoid valves (microvalves) to deposit cells suspended in media in a consistent and repeatable manner. In this case, MSCs and chondrocytes have been sequentially printed into an insert-based transwell system in order to create a laminar co-culture, with variations in the ratios of the cell types used to investigate the potential for MSCs to stimulate ECM production. Histological and indirect immunofluorescence staining revealed the formation of dense tissue structures within the chondrocyte and MSC-chondrocyte cell co-cultures, alongside the establishment of a proliferative region at the base of the tissue. No stimulatory or inhibitory effect in terms of ECM production was observed through the introduction of MSCs, although the potential for an immunomodulatory benefit remains. This study, therefore, provides a novel method to enable the scalable production of therapeutically relevant micro-tissue models that can be used for in vitro research to optimise ACI procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Dudman
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 1PS, UK; (J.D.); (A.M.F.); (P.G.)
| | - Ana Marina Ferreira
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 1PS, UK; (J.D.); (A.M.F.); (P.G.)
| | - Piergiorgio Gentile
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 1PS, UK; (J.D.); (A.M.F.); (P.G.)
| | - Xiao Wang
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK;
| | - Kenneth Dalgarno
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 1PS, UK; (J.D.); (A.M.F.); (P.G.)
- Correspondence:
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Recent advances in microarray 3D bioprinting for high-throughput spheroid and tissue culture and analysis. Essays Biochem 2021; 65:481-489. [PMID: 34296737 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20200150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture in vitro has proven to be more physiologically relevant than two-dimensional (2D) culture of cell monolayers, thus more predictive in assessing efficacy and toxicity of compounds. There have been several 3D cell culture techniques developed, which include spheroid and multicellular tissue cultures. Cell spheroids have been generated from single or multiple cell types cultured in ultralow attachment (ULA) well plates and hanging droplet plates. In general, cell spheroids are formed in a relatively short period of culture, in the absence of extracellular matrices (ECMs), via gravity-driven self-aggregation, thus having limited ability to self-organization in layered structure. On the other hand, multicellular tissue cultures including miniature tissues derived from pluripotent stem cells and adult stem cells (a.k.a. 'organoids') and 3D bioprinted tissue constructs require biomimetic hydrogels or ECMs and show highly ordered structure due to spontaneous self-organization of cells during differentiation and maturation processes. In this short review article, we summarize traditional methods of spheroid and multicellular tissue cultures as well as their technical challenges, and introduce how droplet-based, miniature 3D bioprinting ('microarray 3D bioprinting') can be used to improve assay throughput and reproducibility for high-throughput, predictive screening of compounds. Several platforms including a micropillar chip and a 384-pillar plate developed to facilitate miniature spheroid and tissue cultures via microarray 3D bioprinting are introduced. We excluded microphysiological systems (MPSs) in this article although they are important tissue models to simulate multiorgan interactions.
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Liput M, Magliaro C, Kuczynska Z, Zayat V, Ahluwalia A, Buzanska L. Tools and approaches for analyzing the role of mitochondria in health, development and disease using human cerebral organoids. Dev Neurobiol 2021; 81:591-607. [PMID: 33725382 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22818] [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: 10/03/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Mitochondria are cellular organelles involved in generating energy to power various processes in the cell. Although the pivotal role of mitochondria in neurogenesis was demonstrated (first in animal models), very little is known about their role in human embryonic neurodevelopment and its pathology. In this respect human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC)-derived cerebral organoids provide a tractable, alternative model system of the early neural development and disease that is responsive to pharmacological and genetic manipulations, not possible to apply in humans. Although the involvement of mitochondria in the pathogenesis and progression of neurodegenerative diseases and brain dysfunction has been demonstrated, the precise role they play in cell life and death remains unknown, compromising the development of new mitochondria-targeted approaches to treat human diseases. The cerebral organoid model of neurogenesis and disease in vitro provides an unprecedented opportunity to answer some of the most fundamental questions about mitochondrial function in early human neurodevelopment and neural pathology. Largely an unexplored territory due to the lack of tools and approaches, this review focuses on recent technological advancements in fluorescent and molecular tools, imaging systems, and computational approaches for quantitative and qualitative analyses of mitochondrial structure and function in three-dimensional cellular assemblies-cerebral organoids. Future developments in this direction will further facilitate our understanding of the important role or mitochondrial dynamics and energy requirements during early embryonic development. This in turn will provide a further understanding of how dysfunctional mitochondria contribute to disease processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michał Liput
- Department of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Chiara Magliaro
- Research Centre "E. Piaggio", and Department of Information Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Zuzanna Kuczynska
- Department of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Valery Zayat
- Department of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Arti Ahluwalia
- Research Centre "E. Piaggio", and Department of Information Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Leonora Buzanska
- Department of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
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Decarli MC, do Amaral RLF, Dos Santos DP, Tofani LB, Katayama E, Rezende RA, Silva JVLD, Swiech K, Suazo CAT, Mota C, Moroni L, Moraes ÂM. Cell spheroids as a versatile research platform: formation mechanisms, high throughput production, characterization and applications. Biofabrication 2021; 13. [PMID: 33592595 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/abe6f2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Three-dimensional cell culture has tremendous advantages to closely mimic the in vivo architecture and microenvironment of healthy tissue and organs, as well as of solid tumors. Spheroids are currently the most attractive 3D model to produce uniform reproducible cell structures as well as a potential basis for engineering large tissues and complex organs. In this review we discuss, from an engineering perspective, processes to obtain uniform 3D cell spheroids, comparing dynamic and static cultures and considering aspects such as mass transfer and shear stress. In addition, computational and mathematical modelling of complex cell spheroid systems are discussed. The non-cell-adhesive hydrogel-based method and dynamic cell culture in bioreactors are focused in detail and the myriad of developed spheroid characterization techniques is presented. The main bottlenecks and weaknesses are discussed, especially regarding the analysis of morphological parameters, cell quantification and viability, gene expression profiles, metabolic behavior and high-content analysis. Finally, a vast set of applications of spheroids as tools for in vitro study model systems is examined, including drug screening, tissue formation, pathologies development, tissue engineering and biofabrication, 3D bioprinting and microfluidics, together with their use in high-throughput platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monize Caiado Decarli
- School of Chemical Engineering/Department of Engineering of Materials and of Bioprocesses, University of Campinas, Av. Albert Einstein, 500 - Bloco A - Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Campinas, SP, 13083-852, BRAZIL
| | - Robson Luis Ferraz do Amaral
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto/Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Avenida do Café, no number, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-903, BRAZIL
| | - Diogo Peres Dos Santos
- Departament of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of São Carlos, Rod. Washington Luiz (SP-310), km 235, São Carlos, SP, 13565-905, BRAZIL
| | - Larissa Bueno Tofani
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto/Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Avenida do Café, no number, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-903, BRAZIL
| | - Eric Katayama
- Departament of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of São Carlos, Rod. Washington Luiz (SP-310), km 235, São Carlos, SP, 13565-905, BRAZIL
| | - Rodrigo Alvarenga Rezende
- Centro de Tecnologia da Informacao Renato Archer, Rod. Dom Pedro I (SP-65), km 143,6 - Amarais, Campinas, SP, 13069-901, BRAZIL
| | - Jorge Vicente Lopes da Silva
- Centro de Tecnologia da Informacao Renato Archer, Rod. Dom Pedro I (SP-65), km 143,6 - Amarais, Campinas, SP, 13069-901, BRAZIL
| | - Kamilla Swiech
- University of Sao Paulo, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto/Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14040-903, BRAZIL
| | - Cláudio Alberto Torres Suazo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of São Carlos, Rod. Washington Luiz (SP-310), km 235, São Carlos, SP, 13565-905, BRAZIL
| | - Carlos Mota
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration (CTR), University of Maastricht , Universiteitssingel, 40, office 3.541A, Maastricht, 6229 ER, NETHERLANDS
| | - Lorenzo Moroni
- Complex Tissue Regeneration, Maastricht University, Universiteitsingel, 40, Maastricht, 6229ER, NETHERLANDS
| | - Ângela Maria Moraes
- School of Chemical Engineering/Department of Engineering of Materials and of Bioprocesses, University of Campinas, Av. Albert Einstein, 500 - Bloco A - Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Campinas, SP, 13083-852, BRAZIL
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Nikolakopoulou P, Rauti R, Voulgaris D, Shlomy I, Maoz BM, Herland A. Recent progress in translational engineered in vitro models of the central nervous system. Brain 2020; 143:3181-3213. [PMID: 33020798 PMCID: PMC7719033 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awaa268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The complexity of the human brain poses a substantial challenge for the development of models of the CNS. Current animal models lack many essential human characteristics (in addition to raising operational challenges and ethical concerns), and conventional in vitro models, in turn, are limited in their capacity to provide information regarding many functional and systemic responses. Indeed, these challenges may underlie the notoriously low success rates of CNS drug development efforts. During the past 5 years, there has been a leap in the complexity and functionality of in vitro systems of the CNS, which have the potential to overcome many of the limitations of traditional model systems. The availability of human-derived induced pluripotent stem cell technology has further increased the translational potential of these systems. Yet, the adoption of state-of-the-art in vitro platforms within the CNS research community is limited. This may be attributable to the high costs or the immaturity of the systems. Nevertheless, the costs of fabrication have decreased, and there are tremendous ongoing efforts to improve the quality of cell differentiation. Herein, we aim to raise awareness of the capabilities and accessibility of advanced in vitro CNS technologies. We provide an overview of some of the main recent developments (since 2015) in in vitro CNS models. In particular, we focus on engineered in vitro models based on cell culture systems combined with microfluidic platforms (e.g. 'organ-on-a-chip' systems). We delve into the fundamental principles underlying these systems and review several applications of these platforms for the study of the CNS in health and disease. Our discussion further addresses the challenges that hinder the implementation of advanced in vitro platforms in personalized medicine or in large-scale industrial settings, and outlines the existing differentiation protocols and industrial cell sources. We conclude by providing practical guidelines for laboratories that are considering adopting organ-on-a-chip technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Polyxeni Nikolakopoulou
- AIMES, Center for the Advancement of Integrated Medical and Engineering Sciences, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rossana Rauti
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Dimitrios Voulgaris
- Division of Micro and Nanosystems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Iftach Shlomy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ben M Maoz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Anna Herland
- AIMES, Center for the Advancement of Integrated Medical and Engineering Sciences, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Micro and Nanosystems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
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14
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Bigdelou P, Chan KK, Tang J, Yu KN, Whited J, Wang D, Lee MY, Sun XL. High-throughput multiplex assays with mouse macrophages on pillar plate platforms. Exp Cell Res 2020; 396:112243. [PMID: 32835658 PMCID: PMC7572780 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2020.112243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
It is challenging to rapidly identify immune responses that reflect the state and capability of immune cells due to complex heterogeneity of immune cells and their plasticity to pathogens and modulating molecules. Thus, high-throughput and easy-to-use cell culture and analysis platforms are highly desired for characterizing complex immune responses and elucidating their underlying mechanisms as well. In response to this need, we have developed a micropillar chip and a 384-pillar plate, printed mouse macrophage, RAW 264.7 cell line in alginate on the pillar plate platforms, and established multiplex cell-based assays to rapidly measure cell viability, expression of cell surface markers, and secretion of cytokines upon stimulation with model compound, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), as well as synthetic N-glycan polymers that mimic native glycoconjugates and could bind to lectin receptors on RAW 264.7 cells. Interestingly, changes in RAW 264.7 cell viability, expression levels of cell surface makers, and release of cytokines measured from the pillar plate platforms in the presence and absence of LPS were well correlated with those obtained from their counterpart, the 96-well plate with 2D-cultured macrophages. With this approach, we identified that α2,3-linked N-sialyllactose polymer has significant macrophage modulation activity among the N-glycan polymers tested. Therefore, we successfully demonstrated that our pillar plate platforms with 3D-cultured macrophages can streamline immune cell imaging and analysis in high throughput in response to compound stimulation. We envision that the pillar plate platforms could potentially be used for rapid characterization of immune cell responses and for screening immune cell-modulating molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parnian Bigdelou
- Department of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, 44115, USA
| | - Ka Keung Chan
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Gene Regulation of Health and Disease (GRHD), Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, 44115, USA
| | - Jinshan Tang
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Gene Regulation of Health and Disease (GRHD), Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, 44115, USA; Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine & Natural Products, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, West 601, Huangpu Avenue, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Kyeong-Nam Yu
- Department of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, 44115, USA
| | - Joshua Whited
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Gene Regulation of Health and Disease (GRHD), Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, 44115, USA
| | - Dan Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Gene Regulation of Health and Disease (GRHD), Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, 44115, USA
| | - Moo-Yeal Lee
- Department of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, 44115, USA.
| | - Xue-Long Sun
- Department of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, 44115, USA; Department of Chemistry and Center of Gene Regulation of Health and Disease (GRHD), Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, 44115, USA.
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15
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Maher SP, Conway AJ, Roth A, Adapa SR, Cualing P, Andolina C, Hsiao J, Turgeon J, Chaumeau V, Johnson M, Palmiotti C, Singh N, Barnes SJ, Patel R, Van Grod V, Carter R, Sun HCS, Sattabongkot J, Campo B, Nosten F, Saadi WM, Adams JH, Jiang RHY, Kyle DE. An adaptable soft-mold embossing process for fabricating optically-accessible, microfeature-based culture systems and application toward liver stage antimalarial compound testing. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:1124-1139. [PMID: 32055808 DOI: 10.1039/c9lc00921c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Advanced cell culture methods for modeling organ-level structure have been demonstrated to replicate in vivo conditions more accurately than traditional in vitro cell culture. Given that the liver is particularly important to human health, several advanced culture methods have been developed to experiment with liver disease states, including infection with Plasmodium parasites, the causative agent of malaria. These models have demonstrated that intrahepatic parasites require functionally stable hepatocytes to thrive and robust characterization of the parasite populations' response to investigational therapies is dependent on high-content and high-resolution imaging (HC/RI). We previously reported abiotic confinement extends the functional longevity of primary hepatocytes in a microfluidic platform and set out to instill confinement in a microtiter plate platform while maintaining optical accessibility for HC/RI; with an end-goal of producing an improved P. vivax liver stage culture model. We developed a novel fabrication process in which a PDMS soft mold embosses hepatocyte-confining microfeatures into polystyrene, resulting in microfeature-based hepatocyte confinement (μHEP) slides and plates. Our process was optimized to form both microfeatures and culture wells in a single embossing step, resulting in a 100 μm-thick bottom ideal for HC/RI, and was found inexpensively amendable to microfeature design changes. Microfeatures improved intrahepatic parasite infection rates and μHEP systems were used to reconfirm the activity of reference antimalarials in phenotypic dose-response assays. RNAseq of hepatocytes in μHEP systems demonstrated microfeatures sustain hepatic differentiation and function, suggesting broader utility for preclinical hepatic assays; while our tailorable embossing process could be repurposed for developing additional organ models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven P Maher
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA. and Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Amy J Conway
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.
| | - Alison Roth
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.
| | - Swamy R Adapa
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.
| | - Phillip Cualing
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.
| | - Chiara Andolina
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol Oxford Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand & Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - James Hsiao
- Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jessica Turgeon
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.
| | - Victor Chaumeau
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol Oxford Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand & Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Myles Johnson
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.
| | | | - Naresh Singh
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.
| | - Samantha J Barnes
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.
| | - Raahil Patel
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.
| | | | - Robert Carter
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.
| | | | - Jetsumon Sattabongkot
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Brice Campo
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - François Nosten
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol Oxford Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand & Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - John H Adams
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.
| | - Rays H Y Jiang
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.
| | - Dennis E Kyle
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA. and Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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16
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High-content imaging of 3D-cultured neural stem cells on a 384-pillar plate for the assessment of cytotoxicity. Toxicol In Vitro 2020; 65:104765. [PMID: 31923580 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2020.104765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The assessment of neurotoxicity has been performed traditionally with animals. However, in vivo studies are highly expensive and time-consuming, and often do not correlate to human outcomes. Thus, there is a need for cost-effective, high-throughput, highly predictive alternative in vitro test methods based on early markers of mechanisms of toxicity. High-content imaging (HCI) assays performed on three-dimensionally (3D) cultured cells could provide better understanding of the mechanism of toxicity needed to predict neurotoxicity in humans. However, current 3D cell culture systems lack the throughput required for screening neurotoxicity against a large number of chemicals. Therefore, we have developed miniature 3D neural stem cell (NSC) culture on a unique 384-pillar plate, which is complementary to conventional 384-well plates. Mitochondrial membrane impairment, intracellular glutathione level, cell membrane integrity, DNA damage, and apoptosis have been tested against 3D-cultured ReNcell VM on the 384-pillar plate with four model compounds rotenone, 4-aminopyridine, digoxin, and topotecan. The HCI assays performed in 3D-cultured ReNcell VM on the 384-pillar plates were highly robust and reproducible as indicated by the average Z' factor of 0.6 and CV values around 12%. From concentration-response curves and IC50 values, mitochondrial membrane impairment appears to be the early stage marker of cell death by the compounds.
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17
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Lee SY, Doh I, Lee DW. A High Throughput Apoptosis Assay using 3D Cultured Cells. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24183362. [PMID: 31527418 PMCID: PMC6767243 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24183362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A high throughput apoptosis assay using 3D cultured cells was developed with a micropillar/microwell chip platform. Live cell apoptosis assays based on fluorescence detection have been useful in high content screening. To check the autofluorescence of drugs, controls (no caspase-3/7 reagent in the assay) for the drugs are necessary which require twice the test space. Thus, a high throughput capability and highly miniaturized format for reducing reagent usage are necessary in live cell apoptosis assays. Especially, the expensive caspase-3/7 reagent should be reduced in a high throughput screening system. To solve this issue, we developed a miniaturized apoptosis assay using micropillar/microwell chips for which we tested seventy drugs (six replicates) per chip and reduced the assay volume to 1 µL. This reduced assay volume can decrease the assay costs compared to the 10–40 µL assay volumes used in 384 well plates. In our experiments, among the seventy drugs, four drugs (Cediranib, Cabozatinib, Panobinostat, and Carfilzomib) induced cell death by apoptosis. Those results were confirmed with western blot assays and proved that the chip platform could be used to identify high potency apoptosis-inducing drugs in 3D cultured cells with alginate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang-Yun Lee
- Department of Health sciences and Technology, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 06351, Korea.
- Medical & Bio Device (MBD), Suwon 16229, Korea.
| | - Il Doh
- Center for Medical Convergence Metrology, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Daejeon 34113, Korea.
| | - Dong Woo Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Konyang University, Daejon 35365, Korea.
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18
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Cutrona MB, Simpson JC. A High-Throughput Automated Confocal Microscopy Platform for Quantitative Phenotyping of Nanoparticle Uptake and Transport in Spheroids. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2019; 15:e1902033. [PMID: 31334922 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201902033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
There is a high demand for advanced, image-based, automated high-content screening (HCS) approaches to facilitate phenotypic screening in 3D cell culture models. A major challenge lies in retaining the resolution of fine cellular detail but at the same time imaging multicellular structures at a large scale. In this study, a confocal microscopy-based HCS platform in optical multiwell plates that enables the quantitative morphological profiling of populations of nonuniform spheroids obtained from HT-29 human colorectal cancer cells is described. This platform is then utilized to demonstrate a quantitative dissection of the penetration of synthetic nanoparticles (NP) in multicellular 3D spheroids at multiple levels of scale. A pilot RNA interference-based screening validates this methodology and identifies a subset of RAB GTPases that regulate NP trafficking in these spheroids. This technology is suitable for high-content phenotyping in 3D cell-based screening, providing a framework for nanomedicine drug development as applied to translational oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meritxell B Cutrona
- School of Biology and Environmental Science & Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin (UCD), D04 N2E5, Dublin, Ireland
- Centre for Research in Medical Devices (CÚRAM), Galway, H91 W2TY, Ireland
| | - Jeremy C Simpson
- School of Biology and Environmental Science & Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin (UCD), D04 N2E5, Dublin, Ireland
- Centre for Research in Medical Devices (CÚRAM), Galway, H91 W2TY, Ireland
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19
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Mahajan G, Lee MY, Kothapalli C. Biophysical and biomechanical properties of neural progenitor cells as indicators of developmental neurotoxicity. Arch Toxicol 2019; 93:2979-2992. [PMID: 31428840 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-019-02549-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Conventional in vitro toxicity studies have focused on identifying IC50 and the underlying mechanisms, but how toxicants influence biophysical and biomechanical changes in human cells, especially during developmental stages, remain understudied. Here, using an atomic force microscope, we characterized changes in biophysical (cell area, actin organization) and biomechanical (Young's modulus, force of adhesion, tether force, membrane tension, tether radius) aspects of human fetal brain-derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs) induced by four classes of widely used toxic compounds, including rotenone, digoxin, N-arachidonoylethanolamide (AEA), and chlorpyrifos, under exposure up to 36 h. The sub-cellular mechanisms (apoptosis, mitochondria membrane potential, DNA damage, glutathione levels) by which these toxicants induced biochemical changes in NPCs were assessed. Results suggest a significant compromise in cell viability with increasing toxicant concentration (p < 0.01), and biophysical and biomechanical characteristics with increasing exposure time (p < 0.01) as well as toxicant concentration (p < 0.01). Impairment of mitochondrial membrane potential appears to be the most sensitive mechanism of neurotoxicity for rotenone, AEA and chlorpyrifos exposure, but compromise in plasma membrane integrity for digoxin exposure. The surviving NPCs remarkably retained stemness (SOX2 expression) even at high toxicant concentrations. A negative linear correlation (R2 = 0.92) exists between the elastic modulus of surviving cells and the number of living cells in that environment. We propose that even subtle compromise in cell mechanics could serve as a crucial marker of developmental neurotoxicity (mechanotoxicology) and therefore should be included as part of toxicology assessment repertoire to characterize as well as predict developmental outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gautam Mahajan
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Washkewicz College of Engineering, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Ave, FH 460, Cleveland, OH, 44115, USA
| | - Moo-Yeal Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Washkewicz College of Engineering, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Ave, FH 460, Cleveland, OH, 44115, USA
| | - Chandrasekhar Kothapalli
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Washkewicz College of Engineering, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Ave, FH 460, Cleveland, OH, 44115, USA.
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20
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3D-cultured neural stem cell microarrays on a micropillar chip for high-throughput developmental neurotoxicology. Exp Cell Res 2018; 370:680-691. [PMID: 30048616 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2018.07.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/21/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Numerous chemicals including environmental toxicants and drugs have not been fully evaluated for developmental neurotoxicity. A key gap exists in the ability to predict accurately and robustly in vivo outcomes based on in vitro assays. This is particularly the case for predicting the toxicity of chemicals on the developing human brain. A critical need for such in vitro assays is choice of a suitable model cell type. To that end, we have performed high-throughput in vitro assessment of proliferation and differentiation of human neural stem cells (hNSCs). Conventional in vitro assays typically use immunofluorescence staining to quantify changes in cell morphology and expression of neural cell-specific biomarkers, which is often time-consuming and subject to variable specificities of available antibodies. To alleviate these limitations, we developed a miniaturized, three-dimensional (3D) hNSC culture with ReNcell VM on microarray chip platforms and established a high-throughput promoter-reporter assay system using recombinant lentiviruses on hNSC spheroids to assess cell viability, self-renewal, and differentiation. Optimum cell viability and spheroid formation of 3D ReNcell VM culture were observed on a micropillar chip over a period of 9 days in a mixture of 0.75% (w/v) alginate and 1 mg/mL growth factor reduced (GFR) Matrigel with 25 mM CaCl2 as a crosslinker for alginate. In addition, 3D ReNcell VM culture exhibited self-renewal and differentiation on the microarray chip platform, which was efficiently monitored by enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression of four NSC-specific biomarkers including sex determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), synapsin1, and myelin basic protein (MBP) with the promoter-reporter assay system.
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21
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Yu KN, Kang SY, Hong S, Lee MY. High-throughput metabolism-induced toxicity assays demonstrated on a 384-pillar plate. Arch Toxicol 2018; 92:2501-2516. [PMID: 29974144 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-018-2249-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the Transform Tox Testing Challenge in 2016 with the goal of developing practical methods that can be integrated into conventional high-throughput screening (HTS) assays to better predict the toxicity of parent compounds and their metabolites in vivo. In response to this need and to retrofit existing HTS assays for assessing metabolism-induced toxicity of compounds, we have developed a 384-pillar plate that is complementary to traditional 384-well plates and ideally suited for culturing human cells in three dimensions at a microscale. Briefly, human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells in a mixture of alginate and Matrigel were printed on the 384-pillar plates using a microarray spotter, which were coupled with 384-well plates containing nine model compounds provided by the EPA, five representative Phase I and II drug metabolizing enzymes (DMEs), and one no enzyme control. Viability and membrane integrity of HEK 293 cells were measured with the calcein AM and CellTiter-Glo® kit to determine the IC50 values of the nine parent compounds and DME-generated metabolites. The Z' factors and the coefficient of variation measured were above 0.6 and below 14%, respectively, indicating that the assays established on the 384-pillar plate are robust and reproducible. Out of nine compounds tested, six compounds showed augmented toxicity with DMEs and one compound showed detoxification with a Phase II DME. This result indicates that the 384-pillar plate platform can be used to measure metabolism-induced toxicity of compounds in high-throughput with individual DMEs. As xenobiotics metabolism is a complex process with a variety of DMEs involved, the predictivity of our approach could be further improved with mixtures of DMEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyeong-Nam Yu
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland State University, 455 Fenn Hall (FH), 1960 East 24th Street, Cleveland, OH, 44115-2214, USA
| | - Soo-Yeon Kang
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland State University, 455 Fenn Hall (FH), 1960 East 24th Street, Cleveland, OH, 44115-2214, USA
| | - Stephen Hong
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland State University, 455 Fenn Hall (FH), 1960 East 24th Street, Cleveland, OH, 44115-2214, USA
| | - Moo-Yeal Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland State University, 455 Fenn Hall (FH), 1960 East 24th Street, Cleveland, OH, 44115-2214, USA.
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