1
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Moon BU, Li K, Malic L, Morton K, Shao H, Banh L, Viswanathan S, Young EWK, Veres T. Reversible bonding in thermoplastic elastomer microfluidic platforms for harvestable 3D microvessel networks. LAB ON A CHIP 2024. [PMID: 39291591 DOI: 10.1039/d4lc00530a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/19/2024]
Abstract
Transplantable ready-made microvessels have therapeutic potential for tissue regeneration and cell replacement therapy. Inspired by the natural rapid angiogenic sprouting of microvessels in vivo, engineered injectable 3D microvessel networks are created using thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) microfluidic devices. The TPE material used here is flexible, optically transparent, and can be robustly yet reversibly bonded to a variety of plastic substrates, making it a versatile choice for microfluidic device fabrication because it overcomes the weak self-adhesion properties and limited manufacturing options of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). By leveraging the reversible bonding characteristics of TPE material templates, we present their utility as an organ-on-a-chip platform for forming and handling microvessel networks, and demonstrate their potential for animal-free tissue generation and transplantation in clinical applications. We first show that TPE-based devices have nearly 6-fold higher bonding strength during the cell culture step compared to PDMS-based devices while simultaneously maintaining a full reversible bond to (PS) culture plates, which are widely used for biological cell studies. We also demonstrate the successful generation of perfusable and interconnected 3D microvessel networks using TPE-PS microfluidic devices on both single and multi-vessel loading platforms. Importantly, after removing the TPE slab, microvessel networks remain intact on the PS substrate without any structural damage and can be effectively harvested following gel digestion. The TPE-based organ-on-a-chip platform offers substantial advantages by facilitating the harvesting procedure and maintaining the integrity of microfluidic-engineered microvessels for transplant. To the best of our knowledge, our TPE-based reversible bonding approach marks the first confirmation of successful retrieval of organ-specific vessel segments from the reversibly-bonded TPE microfluidic platform. We anticipate that the method will find applications in organ-on-a-chip and microphysiological system research, particularly in tissue analysis and vessel engraftment, where flexible and reversible bonding can be utilized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byeong-Ui Moon
- Medical Devices, Life Sciences Division, National Research Council of Canada, Boucherville, QC J4B 6Y4, Canada.
- Center for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies (CRAFT), Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, Canada
| | - Kebin Li
- Medical Devices, Life Sciences Division, National Research Council of Canada, Boucherville, QC J4B 6Y4, Canada.
- Center for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies (CRAFT), Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, Canada
| | - Lidija Malic
- Medical Devices, Life Sciences Division, National Research Council of Canada, Boucherville, QC J4B 6Y4, Canada.
- Center for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies (CRAFT), Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Keith Morton
- Medical Devices, Life Sciences Division, National Research Council of Canada, Boucherville, QC J4B 6Y4, Canada.
- Center for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies (CRAFT), Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, Canada
| | - Han Shao
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, Canada
| | - Lauren Banh
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
- Osteoarthritis Research Program, Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Schroeder Arthritis Institute, University Health Network, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Sowmya Viswanathan
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
- Osteoarthritis Research Program, Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Schroeder Arthritis Institute, University Health Network, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Edmond W K Young
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Teodor Veres
- Medical Devices, Life Sciences Division, National Research Council of Canada, Boucherville, QC J4B 6Y4, Canada.
- Center for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies (CRAFT), Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, Canada
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, Canada
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2
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Yadav A, Ahlawat S, Sharma KK. Culturing the unculturables: strategies, challenges, and opportunities for gut microbiome study. J Appl Microbiol 2023; 134:lxad280. [PMID: 38006234 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxad280] [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: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Metagenome sequencing techniques revolutionized the field of gut microbiome study. However, it is equipped with experimental and computational biases, which affect the downstream analysis results. Also, live microbial strains are needed for a better understanding of host-microbial crosstalks and for designing next-generation treatment therapies based on probiotic strains and postbiotic molecules. Conventional culturing methodologies are insufficient to get the dark gut matter on the plate; therefore, there is an urgent need to propose novel culturing methods that can fill the limitations of metagenomics. The current work aims to provide a consolidated evaluation of the available methods for host-microbe interaction with an emphasis on in vitro culturing of gut microbes using organoids, gut on a chip, and gut bioreactor. Further, the knowledge of microbial crosstalk in the gut helps us to identify core microbiota, and key metabolites that will aid in designing culturing media and co-culturing systems for gut microbiome study. After the deeper mining of the current culturing methods, we recommend that 3D-printed intestinal cells in a multistage continuous flow reactor equipped with an extended organoid system might be a good practical choice for gut microbiota-based studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asha Yadav
- Laboratory of Enzymology and Gut Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak 124001, Haryana, India
| | - Shruti Ahlawat
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, SGT University, Gurugram 122505, Haryana, India
| | - Krishna K Sharma
- Laboratory of Enzymology and Gut Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak 124001, Haryana, India
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3
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Lee UN, Su X, Hieber DL, Tu WC, McManamen AM, Takezawa MG, Hassan GW, Chan TC, Adams KN, Wald ER, DeMuri GP, Berthier E, Theberge AB, Thongpang S. CandyCollect: at-home saliva sampling for capture of respiratory pathogens. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:3555-3564. [PMID: 35983761 PMCID: PMC9931141 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc01132d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes is a major human-specific bacterial pathogen and a common cause of a wide range of symptoms from mild infection such as pharyngitis (commonly called strep throat) to life-threatening invasive infection and post-infectious sequelae. Traditional methods for diagnosis include collecting a sample using a pharyngeal swab, which can cause discomfort and even discourage adults and children from seeking proper testing and treatment in the clinic. Saliva samples are an alternative to pharyngeal swabs. To improve the testing experience for strep throat, we developed a novel lollipop-inspired sampling platform (called CandyCollect) to capture bacteria in saliva. The device can be used in clinics or in the home and shipped back to a lab for analysis, integrating with telemedicine. CandyCollect is designed to capture bacteria on an oxygen plasma treated polystyrene surface embedded with flavoring substances to enhance the experience for children and inform the required time to complete the sampling process. In addition, the open channel structure prevents the tongue from scraping and removing the captured bacteria. The flavoring substances did not affect bacterial capture and the device has a shelf life of at least 2 months (with experiments ongoing to extend the shelf life). We performed a usability study with 17 participants who provided feedback on the device design and the dissolving time of the candy. This technology and advanced processing techniques, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), will enable user-friendly and effective diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulri N Lee
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Xiaojing Su
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Damielle L Hieber
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Wan-Chen Tu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Anika M McManamen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Meg G Takezawa
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Grant W Hassan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Tung Ching Chan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Karen N Adams
- Institute of Translational Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ellen R Wald
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Gregory P DeMuri
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Erwin Berthier
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Ashleigh B Theberge
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sanitta Thongpang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, Nakorn Pathom, Thailand
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4
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Recent advances for cancer detection and treatment by microfluidic technology, review and update. Biol Proced Online 2022; 24:5. [PMID: 35484481 PMCID: PMC9052508 DOI: 10.1186/s12575-022-00166-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous cancer-associated deaths are owing to a lack of effective diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Microfluidic systems for analyzing a low volume of samples offer a precise, quick, and user-friendly technique for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Microfluidic devices can detect many cancer-diagnostic factors from biological fluids and also generate appropriate nanoparticles for drug delivery. Thus, microfluidics may be valuable in the cancer field due to its high sensitivity, high throughput, and low cost. In the present article, we aim to review recent achievements in the application of microfluidic systems for the diagnosis and treatment of various cancers. Although microfluidic platforms are not yet used in the clinic, they are expected to become the main technology for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Microfluidic systems are proving to be more sensitive and accurate for the detection of cancer biomarkers and therapeutic strategies than common assays. Microfluidic lab-on-a-chip platforms have shown remarkable potential in the designing of novel procedures for cancer detection, therapy, and disease follow-up as well as the development of new drug delivery systems for cancer treatment.
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5
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Walji N, Kheiri S, Young EWK. Angiogenic Sprouting Dynamics Mediated by Endothelial-Fibroblast Interactions in Microfluidic Systems. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2021; 5:e2101080. [PMID: 34655165 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202101080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Angiogenesis, the development of new blood vessels from existing vasculature, is a key process in normal development and pathophysiology. In vitro models are necessary for investigating mechanisms of angiogenesis and developing antiangiogenic therapies. Microfluidic cell culture models of angiogenesis are favored for their ability to recapitulate 3D tissue structures and control spatiotemporal aspects of the microenvironments. To capture the angiogenesis process, microfluidic models often include endothelial cells and a fibroblast component. However, the influence of fibroblast organization on resulting angiogenic behavior remains unclear. Here a comparative study of angiogenic sprouting on a microfluidic chip induced by fibroblasts in 2D monolayer, 3D dispersed, and 3D spheroid culture formats, is conducted. Vessel morphology and sprout distribution for each configuration are measured, and these observations are correlated with measurements of secreted factors and numerical simulations of diffusion gradients. The results demonstrate that angiogenic sprouting varies in response to fibroblast organization with correlating variations in secretory profile and secreted factor gradients across the microfluidic device. This study is anticipated to shed light on how sprouting dynamics are mediated by fibroblast configuration such that the microfluidic cell culture design process includes the selection of a fibroblast component where the effects are known and leveraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noosheen Walji
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King's College Road, Toronto, M5S 3G8, Canada.,Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 160 College St., Toronto, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Sina Kheiri
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King's College Road, Toronto, M5S 3G8, Canada
| | - Edmond W K Young
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King's College Road, Toronto, M5S 3G8, Canada.,Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 160 College St., Toronto, M5S 3E1, Canada
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6
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Inbody SC, Sinquefield BE, Lewis JP, Horton RE. Biomimetic microsystems for cardiovascular studies. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2021; 320:C850-C872. [PMID: 33760660 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00026.2020] [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: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Traditional tissue culture platforms have been around for several decades and have enabled key findings in the cardiovascular field. However, these platforms failed to recreate the mechanical and dynamic features found within the body. Organs-on-chips (OOCs) are cellularized microfluidic-based devices that can mimic the basic structure, function, and responses of organs. These systems have been successfully utilized in disease, development, and drug studies. OOCs are designed to recapitulate the mechanical, electrical, chemical, and structural features of the in vivo microenvironment. Here, we review cardiovascular-themed OOC studies, design considerations, and techniques used to generate these cellularized devices. Furthermore, we will highlight the advantages of OOC models over traditional cell culture vessels, discuss implementation challenges, and provide perspectives on the state of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelby C Inbody
- Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Biomedical Engineering Department, Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Bridgett E Sinquefield
- Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Biomedical Engineering Department, Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Joshua P Lewis
- Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Biomedical Engineering Department, Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Renita E Horton
- Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Biomedical Engineering Department, Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
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7
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De Chiara F, Ferret-Miñana A, Ramón-Azcón J. The Synergy between Organ-on-a-Chip and Artificial Intelligence for the Study of NAFLD: From Basic Science to Clinical Research. Biomedicines 2021; 9:248. [PMID: 33801289 PMCID: PMC7999375 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9030248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver affects about 25% of global adult population. On the long-term, it is associated with extra-hepatic compliances, multiorgan failure, and death. Various invasive and non-invasive methods are employed for its diagnosis such as liver biopsies, CT scan, MRI, and numerous scoring systems. However, the lack of accuracy and reproducibility represents one of the biggest limitations of evaluating the effectiveness of drug candidates in clinical trials. Organ-on-chips (OOC) are emerging as a cost-effective tool to reproduce in vitro the main NAFLD's pathogenic features for drug screening purposes. Those platforms have reached a high degree of complexity that generate an unprecedented amount of both structured and unstructured data that outpaced our capacity to analyze the results. The addition of artificial intelligence (AI) layer for data analysis and interpretation enables those platforms to reach their full potential. Furthermore, the use of them do not require any ethic and legal regulation. In this review, we discuss the synergy between OOC and AI as one of the most promising ways to unveil potential therapeutic targets as well as the complex mechanism(s) underlying NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco De Chiara
- Biosensors for Bioengineering Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri I Reixac 10–12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.F.-M.); (J.R.-A.)
| | - Ainhoa Ferret-Miñana
- Biosensors for Bioengineering Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri I Reixac 10–12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.F.-M.); (J.R.-A.)
| | - Javier Ramón-Azcón
- Biosensors for Bioengineering Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri I Reixac 10–12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.F.-M.); (J.R.-A.)
- ICREA-Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
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8
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Reversible Bonding of Thermoplastic Elastomers for Cell Patterning Applications. Processes (Basel) 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/pr9010054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In this paper, we present a simple, versatile method that creates patterns for cell migration studies using thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). The TPE material used here can be robustly, but reversibly, bonded to a variety of plastic substrates, allowing patterning of cultured cells in a microenvironment. We first examine the bonding strength of TPE to glass and polystyrene substrates and com-pare it to thermoset silicone-based PDMS under various conditions and demonstrate that the TPE can be strongly and reversibly bonded on commercially available polystyrene culture plates. In cell migration studies, cell patterns are templated around TPE features cored from a thin TPE film. We show that the significance of fibroblast cell growth with fetal bovine serum (FBS)-cell culture media compared to the cells cultured without FBS, analyzed over two days of cell culture. This simple approach allows us to generate cell patterns without harsh manipulations like scratch assays and to avoid damaging the cells. We also confirm that the TPE material is non-toxic to cell growth and supports a high viability of fibroblasts and breast cancer cells. We anticipate this TPE-based patterning approach can be further utilized for many other cell patterning applications such as in cell-to-cell communication studies.
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9
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Berry SB, Gower MS, Su X, Seshadri C, Theberge AB. A Modular Microscale Granuloma Model for Immune-Microenvironment Signaling Studies in vitro. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:931. [PMID: 32974300 PMCID: PMC7461927 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most potent infectious diseases in the world, causing more deaths than any other single infectious agent. TB infection is caused by inhalation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and subsequent phagocytosis and migration into the lung tissue by innate immune cells (e.g., alveolar macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells), resulting in the formation of a fused mass of immune cells known as the granuloma. Considered the pathological hallmark of TB, the granuloma is a complex microenvironment that is crucial for pathogen containment as well as pathogen survival. Disruption of the delicate granuloma microenvironment via numerous stimuli, such as variations in cytokine secretions, nutrient availability, and the makeup of immune cell population, can lead to an active infection. Herein, we present a novel in vitro model to examine the soluble factor signaling between a mycobacterial infection and its surrounding environment. Adapting a newly developed suspended microfluidic platform, known as Stacks, we established a modular microscale infection model containing human immune cells and a model mycobacterial strain that can easily integrate with different microenvironmental cues through simple spatial and temporal "stacking" of each module of the platform. We validate the establishment of suspended microscale (4 μL) infection cultures that secrete increased levels of proinflammatory factors IL-6, VEGF, and TNFα upon infection and form 3D aggregates (granuloma model) encapsulating the mycobacteria. As a proof of concept to demonstrate the capability of our platform to examine soluble factor signaling, we cocultured an in vitro angiogenesis model with the granuloma model and quantified morphology changes in endothelial structures as a result of culture conditions (P < 0.05 when comparing infected vs. uninfected coculture systems). We envision our modular in vitro granuloma model can be further expanded and adapted for studies focusing on the complex interplay between granulomatous structures and their surrounding microenvironment, as well as a complementary tool to augment in vivo signaling and mechanistic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel B. Berry
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Maia S. Gower
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Xiaojing Su
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Chetan Seshadri
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Ashleigh B. Theberge
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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10
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Lin Z, Luo G, Du W, Kong T, Liu C, Liu Z. Recent Advances in Microfluidic Platforms Applied in Cancer Metastasis: Circulating Tumor Cells' (CTCs) Isolation and Tumor-On-A-Chip. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2020; 16:e1903899. [PMID: 31747120 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201903899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 10/13/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Cancer remains the leading cause of death worldwide despite the enormous efforts that are made in the development of cancer biology and anticancer therapeutic treatment. Furthermore, recent studies in oncology have focused on the complex cancer metastatic process as metastatic disease contributes to more than 90% of tumor-related death. In the metastatic process, isolation and analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) play a vital role in diagnosis and prognosis of cancer patients at an early stage. To obtain relevant information on cancer metastasis and progression from CTCs, reliable approaches are required for CTC detection and isolation. Additionally, experimental platforms mimicking the tumor microenvironment in vitro give a better understanding of the metastatic microenvironment and antimetastatic drugs' screening. With the advancement of microfabrication and rapid prototyping, microfluidic techniques are now increasingly being exploited to study cancer metastasis as they allow precise control of fluids in small volume and rapid sample processing at relatively low cost and with high sensitivity. Recent advancements in microfluidic platforms utilized in various methods for CTCs' isolation and tumor models recapitulating the metastatic microenvironment (tumor-on-a-chip) are comprehensively reviewed. Future perspectives on microfluidics for cancer metastasis are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengjie Lin
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Guanyi Luo
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Weixiang Du
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Tiantian Kong
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Changkun Liu
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Zhou Liu
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
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11
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Caballero D, Reis RL, Kundu SC. Engineering Patient-on-a-Chip Models for Personalized Cancer Medicine. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1230:43-64. [PMID: 32285364 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-36588-2_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Traditional in vitro and in vivo models typically used in cancer research have demonstrated a low predictive power for human response. This leads to high attrition rates of new drugs in clinical trials, which threaten cancer patient prognosis. Tremendous efforts have been directed towards the development of a new generation of highly predictable pre-clinical models capable to reproduce in vitro the biological complexity of the human body. Recent advances in nanotechnology and tissue engineering have enabled the development of predictive organs-on-a-chip models of cancer with advanced capabilities. These models can reproduce in vitro the complex three-dimensional physiology and interactions that occur between organs and tissues in vivo, offering multiple advantages when compared to traditional models. Importantly, these models can be tailored to the biological complexity of individual cancer patients resulting into biomimetic and personalized cancer patient-on-a-chip platforms. The individualized models provide a more accurate and physiological environment to predict tumor progression on patients and their response to drugs. In this chapter, we describe the latest advances in the field of cancer patient-on-a-chip, and discuss about their main applications and current challenges. Overall, we anticipate that this new paradigm in cancer in vitro models may open up new avenues in the field of personalized - cancer - medicine, which may allow pharmaceutical companies to develop more efficient drugs, and clinicians to apply patient-specific therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Caballero
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Barco, Guimarães, Portugal. .,ICVS 3Bs PT Government Associate Lab, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal.
| | - Rui L Reis
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Barco, Guimarães, Portugal.,ICVS 3Bs PT Government Associate Lab, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal.,The Discoveries Centre for Regenerative and Precision Medicine, Headquarters at University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Subhas C Kundu
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Barco, Guimarães, Portugal.,ICVS 3Bs PT Government Associate Lab, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
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12
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Abstract
Angiogenesis is a natural and vital phenomenon of neovascularization that occurs from pre-existing vasculature, being present in many physiological processes, namely in development, reproduction and regeneration. Being a highly dynamic and tightly regulated process, its abnormal expression can be on the basis of several pathologies. For that reason, angiogenesis has been a subject of major interest among the scientific community, being transverse to different areas and founding particular attention in tissue engineering and cancer research fields. Microfluidics has emerged as a powerful tool for modelling this phenomenon, thereby surpassing the limitations associated to conventional angiogenic models. Holding a tremendous flexibility in terms of experimental design towards a specific goal, microfluidic systems can offer an unlimited number of opportunities for investigating angiogenesis in many relevant scenarios, namely from its fundamental comprehension in normal physiological processes to the identification and testing of new therapeutic targets involved on pathological angiogenesis. Additionally, microvascular 3D in vitro models are now opening up new prospects in different fields, being used for investigating and establishing guidelines for the development of next generation of 3D functional vascularized grafts. The promising applications of this emerging technology in angiogenesis studies are herein overviewed, encompassing fundamental and applied research.
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13
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Devadas D, Moore TA, Walji N, Young EWK. A microfluidic mammary gland coculture model using parallel 3D lumens for studying epithelial-endothelial migration in breast cancer. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2019; 13:064122. [PMID: 31832120 PMCID: PMC6894982 DOI: 10.1063/1.5123912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
In breast cancer development, crosstalk between mammary epithelial cells and neighboring vascular endothelial cells is critical to understanding tumor progression and metastasis, but the mechanisms of this dynamic interplay are not fully understood. Current cell culture platforms do not accurately recapitulate the 3D luminal architecture of mammary gland elements. Here, we present the development of an accessible and scalable microfluidic coculture system that incorporates two parallel 3D luminal structures that mimic vascular endothelial and mammary epithelial cell layers, respectively. This parallel 3D lumen configuration allows investigation of endothelial-epithelial crosstalk and its effects of the comigration of endothelial and epithelial cells into microscale migration ports located between the parallel lumens. We describe the development and application of our platform, demonstrate generation of 3D luminal cell layers for endothelial cells and three different breast cancer cell lines, and quantify their migration profiles based on number of migrated cells, area coverage by migrated cells, and distance traveled by individual migrating cells into the migration ports. Our system enables analysis at the single-cell level, allows simultaneous monitoring of endothelial and epithelial cell migration within a 3D extracellular matrix, and has potential for applications in basic research on cellular crosstalk as well as drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepika Devadas
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8, Canada
| | - Thomas A. Moore
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8, Canada
| | | | - Edmond W. K. Young
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:. Tel.: +1 (416) 978-1521
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14
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Reconfigurable open microfluidics for studying the spatiotemporal dynamics of paracrine signalling. Nat Biomed Eng 2019; 3:830-841. [PMID: 31427781 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-019-0421-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The study of intercellular signalling networks requires organotypic microscale systems that facilitate the culture, conditioning and manipulation of cells. Here, we describe a reconfigurable microfluidic cell-culture system that facilitates the assembly of three-dimensional tissue models by stacking layers that contain preconditioned microenvironments. By using principles of open and suspended microfluidics, the Stacks system is easily assembled or disassembled to provide spatial and temporal manoeuvrability in two-dimensional and three-dimensional assays of multiple cell types, enabling the modelling of sequential paracrine-signalling events, such as tumour-cell-mediated differentiation of macrophages and macrophage-facilitated angiogenesis. We used Stacks to recapitulate the in vivo observation that different prostate cancer tissues polarize macrophages with distinct gene-expression profiles of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Stacks also enabled us to show that these two types of macrophages signal distinctly to endothelial cells, leading to blood vessels with different morphologies. Our proof-of-concept experiments exemplify how Stacks can efficiently model multicellular interactions and highlight the importance of spatiotemporal specificity in intercellular signalling.
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15
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Kuzmic N, Moore T, Devadas D, Young EWK. Modelling of endothelial cell migration and angiogenesis in microfluidic cell culture systems. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2019; 18:717-731. [PMID: 30604299 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-018-01111-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Tumour-induced angiogenesis is a complex biological process that involves growth of new blood vessels within the tumour microenvironment and is an important target for cancer therapies. Significant efforts have been undertaken to develop theoretical models as well as in vitro experimental models to study angiogenesis in a highly controllable and accessible manner. Various mathematical models have been developed to study angiogenesis, but these have mostly been applied to in vivo assays. Recently, microfluidic cell culture systems have emerged as useful and powerful tools for studying cell migration and angiogenesis processes, but thus far, mathematical angiogenesis models have not yet been applied to microfluidic geometries. Integrating mathematical and computational modelling with microfluidic-based assays has potential to enable greater control over experimental parameters, provide new insights into fundamental angiogenesis processes and assist in accelerating design and optimization of operating conditions. Here, we describe the development and application of a combined mathematical and computational modelling approach tailored specifically for microfluidic cell culture systems. The objective was to allow optimization of the engineering design of microfluidic systems, where the model may be used to test the impact of various geometric parameters on cell migration and angiogenesis processes, and assist in identifying optimal device dimensions to achieve desired readouts. We employed two separate continuum mathematical models that treated cell density, vessel length density and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration as continuous average variables, and we implemented these models numerically using finite difference discretization and a Method of Lines approach. We examined the average response of cells to VEGF gradients inside our microfluidic device, including the time-dependent changes in cell density and vessel density, and how they were affected by changes in device geometries including the migration port width and length. Our study demonstrated that mathematical modelling can be integrated with microfluidics to offer new perspectives on emerging problems in biomicrofluidics and cancer biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikola Kuzmic
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Thomas Moore
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Deepika Devadas
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Edmond W K Young
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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16
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Biglari S, Le TYL, Tan RP, Wise SG, Zambon A, Codolo G, De Bernard M, Warkiani M, Schindeler A, Naficy S, Valtchev P, Khademhosseini A, Dehghani F. Simulating Inflammation in a Wound Microenvironment Using a Dermal Wound-on-a-Chip Model. Adv Healthc Mater 2019; 8:e1801307. [PMID: 30511808 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201801307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Considerable progress has been made in the field of microfluidics to develop complex systems for modeling human skin and dermal wound healing processes. While microfluidic models have attempted to integrate multiple cell types and/or 3D culture systems, to date they have lacked some elements needed to fully represent dermal wound healing. This paper describes a cost-effective, multicellular microfluidic system that mimics the paracrine component of early inflammation close to normal wound healing. Collagen and Matrigel are tested as materials for coating and adhesion of dermal fibroblasts and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The wound-on-chip model consists of three interconnecting channels and is able to simulate wound inflammation by adding tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) or by triculturing with macrophages. Both the approaches significantly increase IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 in the supernatant (p < 0.05), and increases in cytokine levels are attenuated by cotreatment with an anti-inflammatory agent, Dexamethasone. Incorporation of M1 and M2 macrophages cocultured with fibroblasts and HUVECs leads to a stimulation of cytokine production as well as vascular structure formation, particularly with M2 macrophages. In summary, this wound-on-chip system can be used to model the paracrine component of the early inflammatory phase of wound healing and has the potential for the screening of anti-inflammatory compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Biglari
- School of Chemical Biomolecular Engineering University of Sydney Sydney 2006 Australia
| | - Thi Y. L. Le
- School of Chemical Biomolecular Engineering University of Sydney Sydney 2006 Australia
| | | | - Steven G. Wise
- Heart Research Institute Sydney 2042 Australia
- Sydney Medical School University of Sydney Sydney 2006 Australia
| | - Alessandro Zambon
- Department of Industrial Engineering University of Padua Padua 35122 Italy
| | - Gaia Codolo
- Department of Biology University of Padua Padua 35122 Italy
| | | | - Majid Warkiani
- School of Biomedical Engineering University Technology of Sydney Sydney 2007 Australia
| | - Aaron Schindeler
- School of Chemical Biomolecular Engineering University of Sydney Sydney 2006 Australia
- Orthopedic Research & Biotechnology Unit The Children's Hospital at Westmead Westmead 2145 Australia
| | - Sina Naficy
- School of Chemical Biomolecular Engineering University of Sydney Sydney 2006 Australia
| | - Peter Valtchev
- School of Chemical Biomolecular Engineering University of Sydney Sydney 2006 Australia
| | - Ali Khademhosseini
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department of Bioengineering Department of Radiology California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) University of California Los Angeles CA 90095 USA
| | - Fariba Dehghani
- School of Chemical Biomolecular Engineering University of Sydney Sydney 2006 Australia
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17
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Mertz DR, Ahmed T, Takayama S. Engineering cell heterogeneity into organs-on-a-chip. LAB ON A CHIP 2018; 18:2378-2395. [PMID: 30040104 PMCID: PMC6081245 DOI: 10.1039/c8lc00413g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Organ-on-a-chip development is an application that will benefit from advances in cell heterogeneity characterization because these culture models are intended to mimic in vivo microenvironments, which are complex and dynamic. Due in no small part to advances in microfluidic single cell analysis methods, cell-to-cell variability is an increasingly understood feature of physiological tissues, with cell types from as common as 1 out of every 2 cells to as rare as 1 out of every 100 000 cells having important roles in the biochemical and biological makeup of tissues and organs. Variability between neighboring cells can be transient or maintained, and ordered or stochastic. This review covers three areas of well-studied cell heterogeneity that are informative for organ-on-a-chip development efforts: tumors, the lung, and the intestine. Then we look at how recent single cell analysis strategies have enabled better understanding of heterogeneity within in vitro and in vivo tissues. Finally, we provide a few work-arounds for adapting current on-chip culture methods to better mimic physiological cell heterogeneity including accounting for crucial rare cell types and events.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R Mertz
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech College of Engineering and Emory School of Medicine, USA.
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18
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Rodenhizer D, Dean T, D'Arcangelo E, McGuigan AP. The Current Landscape of 3D In Vitro Tumor Models: What Cancer Hallmarks Are Accessible for Drug Discovery? Adv Healthc Mater 2018; 7:e1701174. [PMID: 29350495 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201701174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Revised: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cancer prognosis remains a lottery dependent on cancer type, disease stage at diagnosis, and personal genetics. While investment in research is at an all-time high, new drugs are more likely to fail in clinical trials today than in the 1970s. In this review, a summary of current survival statistics in North America is provided, followed by an overview of the modern drug discovery process, classes of models used throughout different stages, and challenges associated with drug development efficiency are highlighted. Then, an overview of the cancer hallmarks that drive clinical progression is provided, and the range of available clinical therapies within the context of these hallmarks is categorized. Specifically, it is found that historically, the development of therapies is limited to a subset of possible targets. This provides evidence for the opportunities offered by novel disease-relevant in vitro models that enable identification of novel targets that facilitate interactions between the tumor cells and their surrounding microenvironment. Next, an overview of the models currently reported in literature is provided, and the cancer biology they have been used to explore is highlighted. Finally, four priority areas are suggested for the field to accelerate adoption of in vitro tumour models for cancer drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren Rodenhizer
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied ChemistryUniversity of Toronto 200 College Street Toronto M5S 3E5 Canada
| | - Teresa Dean
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Toronto 200 College Street Toronto M5S 3E5 Canada
| | - Elisa D'Arcangelo
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Toronto 200 College Street Toronto M5S 3E5 Canada
| | - Alison P. McGuigan
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry & Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Toronto 200 College Street Toronto M5S 3E5 Canada
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19
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Zhang Y, Liu X, Michelson K, Trivedi R, Wu X, Schepp E, Xing Y, Darland D, Zhao JX. Graphene Oxide-Based Biocompatible 3D Mesh with a Tunable Porosity and Tensility for Cell Culture. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2018; 4:1505-1517. [DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.8b00190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- Shijiazhuang
Center
for Disease Control and Prevention, Shijiazhuang 050019, P.R. China
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20
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Chen C, Townsend AD, Hayter EA, Birk HM, Sell SA, Martin RS. Insert-based microfluidics for 3D cell culture with analysis. Anal Bioanal Chem 2018. [PMID: 29536154 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-018-0985-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
We present an insert-based approach to fabricate scalable and multiplexable microfluidic devices for 3D cell culture and integration with downstream detection modules. Laser-cut inserts with a layer of electrospun fibers are used as a scaffold for 3D cell culture, with the inserts being easily assembled in a 3D-printed fluidic device for flow-based studies. With this approach, the number and types of cells (on the inserts) in one fluidic device can be customized. Moreover, after an investigation (i.e., stimulation) under flowing conditions, the cell-laden inserts can be removed easily for subsequent studies including imaging and cell lysis. In this paper, we first discuss the fabrication of the device and characterization of the fibrous inserts. Two device designs containing two (channel width = 260 μm) and four (channel width = 180 μm) inserts, respectively, were used for different experiments in this study. Cell adhesion on the inserts with flowing media through the device was tested by culturing endothelial cells. Macrophages were cultured and stimulated under different conditions, the results of which indicate that the fibrous scaffolds under flow conditions result in dramatic effects on the amount and kinetics of TNF-α production (after LPS stimulation). Finally, we show that the cell module can be integrated with a downstream absorbance detection scheme. Overall, this technology represents a new and versatile way to culture cells in a more in vivo fashion for in vitro studies with online detection modules. Graphical abstract This paper describes an insert-based microfluidic device for 3D cell culture that can be easily scaled, multiplexed, and integrated with downstream analytical modules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengpeng Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Saint Louis University, 3501 Laclede Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63103, USA
| | - Alexandra D Townsend
- Department of Chemistry, Saint Louis University, 3501 Laclede Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63103, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Hayter
- Department of Chemistry, Saint Louis University, 3501 Laclede Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63103, USA
| | - Hannah M Birk
- Department of Chemistry, Saint Louis University, 3501 Laclede Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63103, USA
| | - Scott A Sell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Saint Louis University, 3450 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO, 63103, USA
| | - R Scott Martin
- Department of Chemistry, Saint Louis University, 3501 Laclede Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63103, USA.
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21
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Tsai HF, Trubelja A, Shen AQ, Bao G. Tumour-on-a-chip: microfluidic models of tumour morphology, growth and microenvironment. J R Soc Interface 2018. [PMID: 28637915 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2017.0137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death, albeit enormous efforts to cure the disease. To overcome the major challenges in cancer therapy, we need to have a better understanding of the tumour microenvironment (TME), as well as a more effective means to screen anti-cancer drug leads; both can be achieved using advanced technologies, including the emerging tumour-on-a-chip technology. Here, we review the recent development of the tumour-on-a-chip technology, which integrates microfluidics, microfabrication, tissue engineering and biomaterials research, and offers new opportunities for building and applying functional three-dimensional in vitro human tumour models for oncology research, immunotherapy studies and drug screening. In particular, tumour-on-a-chip microdevices allow well-controlled microscopic studies of the interaction among tumour cells, immune cells and cells in the TME, of which simple tissue cultures and animal models are not amenable to do. The challenges in developing the next-generation tumour-on-a-chip technology are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsieh-Fu Tsai
- Micro/Bio/Nanofluidics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
| | - Alen Trubelja
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Amy Q Shen
- Micro/Bio/Nanofluidics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
| | - Gang Bao
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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22
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Asif A, Khawaldeh S, Khan MS, Tekin A. Design and Simulation of Microfluidic Device for Metabolite Screening and Quantitative Monitoring of Drug Uptake in Cancer Cells. JOURNAL OF ELECTRICAL BIOIMPEDANCE 2018; 9:10-16. [PMID: 33584915 PMCID: PMC7852006 DOI: 10.2478/joeb-2018-0003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Although liquid-liquid extraction methods are currently being applied in many areas such as analytical chemistry, biochemical engineering, biochemistry, and biological applications, accessibility and usability of microfluidics in practical daily life fields are still bounded. Suspended microfluidic devices have the potential to lessen the obstacles, but the absence of robust design rules have hampered their usage. The primary objective of this work is to design and fabricate a microfluidic device to quantitatively monitor the drug uptake of cancer cells. Liquid-liquid extraction is used to quantify the drug uptake. In this research work, designs and simulations of two different microfluidic devices for carrying out multiplex solution experiments are proposed to test their efficiency. These simplified miniaturized chips would serve as suspended microfluidic metabolites extraction platform as it allows extracting the metabolites produced from the cancer cells as a result of applying a specific drug type for a certain period of time. These devices would be fabricated by making polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) molds from the negative master mold using soft lithography. Furthermore, it can leverage to provide versatile functionalities like high throughput screening, cancer cell invasions, protein purification, and small molecules extractions. As per previous studies, PDMS has been depicting better stability with various solvents and has proved to be a reliable and cost effective material to be used for fabrication, though the sensitivity of the chip would be analyzed by cross contamination and of solvents within the channels of device.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afia Asif
- Graduate School of Engineering and Science, Ozyegin University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Saed Khawaldeh
- Erasmus+ Joint Master Program in Medical Imaging and Applications, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
- Erasmus+ Joint Master Program in Medical Imaging and Applications, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France
- Erasmus+ Joint Master Program in Medical Imaging and Applications, UNICLAM, Cassino FR, Italy
| | - Muhammad Salman Khan
- Graduate School of Engineering and Science, Ozyegin University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Tekin
- Graduate School of Engineering and Science, Ozyegin University, Istanbul, Turkey
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23
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Ahadian S, Civitarese R, Bannerman D, Mohammadi MH, Lu R, Wang E, Davenport-Huyer L, Lai B, Zhang B, Zhao Y, Mandla S, Korolj A, Radisic M. Organ-On-A-Chip Platforms: A Convergence of Advanced Materials, Cells, and Microscale Technologies. Adv Healthc Mater 2018; 7. [PMID: 29034591 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201700506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Revised: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Significant advances in biomaterials, stem cell biology, and microscale technologies have enabled the fabrication of biologically relevant tissues and organs. Such tissues and organs, referred to as organ-on-a-chip (OOC) platforms, have emerged as a powerful tool in tissue analysis and disease modeling for biological and pharmacological applications. A variety of biomaterials are used in tissue fabrication providing multiple biological, structural, and mechanical cues in the regulation of cell behavior and tissue morphogenesis. Cells derived from humans enable the fabrication of personalized OOC platforms. Microscale technologies are specifically helpful in providing physiological microenvironments for tissues and organs. In this review, biomaterials, cells, and microscale technologies are described as essential components to construct OOC platforms. The latest developments in OOC platforms (e.g., liver, skeletal muscle, cardiac, cancer, lung, skin, bone, and brain) are then discussed as functional tools in simulating human physiology and metabolism. Future perspectives and major challenges in the development of OOC platforms toward accelerating clinical studies of drug discovery are finally highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samad Ahadian
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
| | - Robert Civitarese
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
| | - Dawn Bannerman
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
| | - Mohammad Hossein Mohammadi
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
| | - Rick Lu
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
| | - Erika Wang
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
| | - Locke Davenport-Huyer
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
| | - Ben Lai
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
| | - Boyang Zhang
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
| | - Yimu Zhao
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
| | - Serena Mandla
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
| | - Anastasia Korolj
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
| | - Milica Radisic
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
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24
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Caballero D, Kaushik S, Correlo V, Oliveira J, Reis R, Kundu S. Organ-on-chip models of cancer metastasis for future personalized medicine: From chip to the patient. Biomaterials 2017; 149:98-115. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Revised: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
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25
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Organoids, organs-on-chips and other systems, and microbiota. Emerg Top Life Sci 2017; 1:385-400. [PMID: 33525777 PMCID: PMC7289039 DOI: 10.1042/etls20170047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Revised: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The human gut microbiome is considered an organ in its entirety and has been the subject of extensive research due to its role in physiology, metabolism, digestion, and immune regulation. Disequilibria of the normal microbiome have been associated with the development of several gastrointestinal diseases, but the exact underlying interactions are not well understood. Conventional in vivo and in vitro modelling systems fail to faithfully recapitulate the complexity of the human host–gut microbiome, emphasising the requirement for novel systems that provide a platform to study human host–gut microbiome interactions with a more holistic representation of the human in vivo microenvironment. In this review, we outline the progression and applications of new and old modelling systems with particular focus on their ability to model and to study host–microbiome cross-talk.
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26
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Moore TA, Li A, Young EWK. Integrating Population Heterogeneity Indices with Microfluidic Cell-Based Assays. SLAS DISCOVERY 2017; 23:459-473. [PMID: 29048950 DOI: 10.1177/2472555217738533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in cell-based assays have involved the integration of single-cell analyses and microfluidics technology to facilitate both high-content and high-throughput applications. These technical advances have yielded large datasets with single-cell resolution, and have given rise to the study of cell population dynamics, but statistical analyses of these populations and their properties have received much less attention, particularly for cells cultured in microfluidic systems. The objective of this study was to perform statistical analyses using Pittsburgh Heterogeneity Indices (PHIs) to understand the heterogeneity and evolution of cell population demographics on datasets generated from a microfluidic single-cell-resolution cell-based assay. We applied PHIs to cell population data obtained from studies involving drug response and soluble factor signaling of multiple myeloma cancer cells, and investigated effects of reducing population size in the microfluidic assay on both the PHIs and traditional population-averaged readouts. Results showed that PHIs are useful for examining changing population distributions within a microfluidic setting. Furthermore, PHIs provided data in support of finding the minimum population size for a microfluidic assay without altering the heterogeneity indices of the cell population. This work will be useful for novel assay development, and for advancing the integration of microfluidics, cell-based assays, and heterogeneity analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A Moore
- 1 Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Institute of Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alexander Li
- 2 Division of Engineering Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Edmond W K Young
- 1 Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Institute of Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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27
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A Critical Analysis of the Available In Vitro and Ex Vivo Methods to Study Retinal Angiogenesis. J Ophthalmol 2017; 2017:3034953. [PMID: 28848677 PMCID: PMC5564124 DOI: 10.1155/2017/3034953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis is a biological process with a central role in retinal diseases. The choice of the ideal method to study angiogenesis, particularly in the retina, remains a problem. Angiogenesis can be assessed through in vitro and in vivo studies. In spite of inherent limitations, in vitro studies are faster, easier to perform and quantify, and typically less expensive and allow the study of isolated angiogenesis steps. We performed a systematic review of PubMed searching for original articles that applied in vitro or ex vivo angiogenic retinal assays until May 2017, presenting the available assays and discussing their applicability, advantages, and disadvantages. Most of the studies evaluated migration, proliferation, and tube formation of endothelial cells in response to inhibitory or stimulatory compounds. Other aspects of angiogenesis were studied by assessing cell permeability, adhesion, or apoptosis, as well as by implementing organotypic models of the retina. Emphasis is placed on how the methods are applied and how they can contribute to retinal angiogenesis comprehension. We also discuss how to choose the best cell culture to implement these methods. When applied together, in vitro and ex vivo studies constitute a powerful tool to improve retinal angiogenesis knowledge. This review provides support for researchers to better select the most suitable protocols in this field.
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Microfluidic co-cultures of retinal pigment epithelial cells and vascular endothelial cells to investigate choroidal angiogenesis. Sci Rep 2017; 7:3538. [PMID: 28615726 PMCID: PMC5471206 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03788-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis plays a critical role in many diseases, including macular degeneration. At present, the pathological mechanisms remain unclear while appropriate models dissecting regulation of angiogenic processes are lacking. We propose an in vitro angiogenesis process and test it by examining the co-culture of human retinal pigmental epithelial cells (ARPE-19) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) inside a microfluidic device. From characterisation of the APRE-19 monoculture, the tight junction protein (ZO-1) was found on the cells cultured in the microfluidic device but changes in the medium conditions did not affect the integrity of monolayers found in the permeability tests. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion was elevated under low glucose and hypoxia conditions compared to the control. After confirming the angiogenic ability of HUVEC, the cell-cell interactions were analyzed under lowered glucose medium and chemical hypoxia by exposing ARPE-19 cells to cobalt (II) chloride (CoCl2). Heterotypic interactions between ARPE-19 and HUVEC were observed, but proliferation of HUVEC was hindered once the monolayer of ARPE-19 started breaking down. The above characterisations showed that alterations in glucose concentration and/or oxygen level as induced by chemical hypoxia causes elevations in VEGF produced in ARPE-19 which in turn affected directional growth of HUVEC.
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Junaid A, Mashaghi A, Hankemeier T, Vulto P. An end-user perspective on Organ-on-a-Chip: Assays and usability aspects. CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobme.2017.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Vasculature-On-A-Chip for In Vitro Disease Models. Bioengineering (Basel) 2017; 4:bioengineering4010008. [PMID: 28952486 PMCID: PMC5590435 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering4010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Revised: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascularization, the formation of new blood vessels, is an essential biological process. As the vasculature is involved in various fundamental physiological phenomena and closely related to several human diseases, it is imperative that substantial research is conducted on characterizing the vasculature and its related diseases. A significant evolution has been made to describe the vascularization process so that in vitro recapitulation of vascularization is possible. The current microfluidic systems allow elaborative research on the effects of various cues for vascularization, and furthermore, in vitro technologies have a great potential for being applied to the vascular disease models for studying pathological events and developing drug screening platforms. Here, we review methods of fabrication for microfluidic assays and inducing factors for vascularization. We also discuss applications using engineered vasculature such as in vitro vascular disease models, vasculature in organ-on-chips and drug screening platforms.
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31
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Advances of Microfluidic Technologies Applied in Bio-analytical Chemistry. CHINESE JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/s1872-2040(16)60982-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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32
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Portillo-Lara R, Annabi N. Microengineered cancer-on-a-chip platforms to study the metastatic microenvironment. LAB ON A CHIP 2016; 16:4063-4081. [PMID: 27605305 DOI: 10.1039/c6lc00718j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
More than 90% of cancer-related deaths can be attributed to the occurrence of metastatic diseases. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of the multicellular, biochemical and biophysical stimuli from the tumor microenvironment during carcinogenesis, treatment failure, and metastasis. Therefore, there is a need for experimental platforms that are able to recapitulate the complex pathophysiological features of the metastatic microenvironment. Recent advancements in biomaterials, microfluidics, and tissue engineering have led to the development of living multicellular microculture systems, which are maintained in controllable microenvironments and function with organ level complexity. The applications of these "on-chip" technologies for detection, separation, characterization and three dimensional (3D) propagation of cancer cells have been extensively reviewed in previous works. In this contribution, we focus on integrative microengineered platforms that allow the study of multiple aspects of the metastatic microenvironment, including the physicochemical cues from the tumor associated stroma, the heterocellular interactions that drive trans-endothelial migration and angiogenesis, the environmental stresses that metastatic cancer cells encounter during migration, and the physicochemical gradients that direct cell motility and invasion. We discuss the application of these systems as in vitro assays to elucidate fundamental mechanisms of cancer metastasis, as well as their use as human relevant platforms for drug screening in biomimetic microenvironments. We then conclude with our commentaries on current progress and future perspectives of microengineered systems for fundamental and translational cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Portillo-Lara
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, 451 Snell Engineering Building, 360 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA. and Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - N Annabi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, 451 Snell Engineering Building, 360 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA. and Biomaterials Innovation Research Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA and Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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33
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Moore TA, Young EWK. Single cell functional analysis of multiple myeloma cell populations correlates with diffusion profiles in static microfluidic coculture systems. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2016; 10:044105. [PMID: 27478529 PMCID: PMC4947036 DOI: 10.1063/1.4958982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic cell culture systems are becoming increasingly useful for studying biology questions, particularly those involving small cell populations that are cultured within microscale geometries mimicking the complex cellular microenvironment. Depending on the geometry and spatial organization of these cell populations, however, paracrine signaling between cell types can depend critically on spatial concentration profiles of soluble factors generated by diffusive transport. In scenarios where single cell data are acquired to study cell population heterogeneities in functional response, uncertainty associated with concentration profiles can lead to interpretation bias. To address this issue and provide important evidence on how diffusion develops within typical microfluidic cell culture systems, a combination of experimental and computational approaches were applied to measure and predict concentration patterns within microfluidic geometries, and characterize the functional response of culture cells based on single-cell resolution transcription factor activation. Using a model coculture system consisting of multiple myeloma cells (MMCs) and neighboring bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs), we measured concentrations of three cytokines (IL-6, VEGF, and TNF-α) in conditioned media collected from separate culture compartments using a multiplex ELISA system. A 3D numerical model was developed to predict biomolecular diffusion and resulting concentration profiles within the tested microsystems and compared with experimental diffusion of 20 kDa FITC-Dextran. Finally, diffusion was further characterized by controlling exogenous IL-6 diffusion and the coculture spatial configuration of BMSCs to stimulate STAT3 nuclear translocation in MMCs. Results showed agreement between numerical and experimental results, provided evidence of a shallow concentration gradient across the center well of the microsystem that did not lead to a bias in results, and demonstrated that microfluidic systems can be tailored with specific geometries to avoid spatial bias when desired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A Moore
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering and the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8, Canada
| | - Edmond W K Young
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering and the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8, Canada
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34
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Del Amo C, Borau C, Gutiérrez R, Asín J, García-Aznar JM. Quantification of angiogenic sprouting under different growth factors in a microfluidic platform. J Biomech 2016; 49:1340-1346. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2015.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2015] [Revised: 10/13/2015] [Accepted: 10/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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35
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Microfluidic Organ/Body-on-a-Chip Devices at the Convergence of Biology and Microengineering. SENSORS 2015; 15:31142-70. [PMID: 26690442 PMCID: PMC4721768 DOI: 10.3390/s151229848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2015] [Revised: 11/16/2015] [Accepted: 12/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in biomedical technologies are mostly related to the convergence of biology with microengineering. For instance, microfluidic devices are now commonly found in most research centers, clinics and hospitals, contributing to more accurate studies and therapies as powerful tools for drug delivery, monitoring of specific analytes, and medical diagnostics. Most remarkably, integration of cellularized constructs within microengineered platforms has enabled the recapitulation of the physiological and pathological conditions of complex tissues and organs. The so-called “organ-on-a-chip” technology, which represents a new avenue in the field of advanced in vitro models, with the potential to revolutionize current approaches to drug screening and toxicology studies. This review aims to highlight recent advances of microfluidic-based devices towards a body-on-a-chip concept, exploring their technology and broad applications in the biomedical field.
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36
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An F, Qu Y, Liu X, Zhong R, Luo Y. Organ-on-a-Chip: New Platform for Biological Analysis. ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY INSIGHTS 2015; 10:39-45. [PMID: 26640364 PMCID: PMC4664205 DOI: 10.4137/aci.s28905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2015] [Revised: 07/09/2015] [Accepted: 07/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Direct detection and analysis of biomolecules and cells in physiological microenvironment is urgently needed for fast evaluation of biology and pharmacy. The past several years have witnessed remarkable development opportunities in vitro organs and tissues models with multiple functions based on microfluidic devices, termed as “organ-on-a-chip”. Briefly speaking, it is a promising technology in rebuilding physiological functions of tissues and organs, featuring mammalian cell co-culture and artificial microenvironment created by microchannel networks. In this review, we summarized the advances in studies of heart-, vessel-, liver-, neuron-, kidney- and Multi-organs-on-a-chip, and discussed some noteworthy potential on-chip detection schemes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan An
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China. ; State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Department of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Yueyang Qu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China. ; State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Department of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Xianming Liu
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, China
| | - Runtao Zhong
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, China
| | - Yong Luo
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China. ; State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Department of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
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37
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Chen Y, Gao D, Liu H, Lin S, Jiang Y. Drug cytotoxicity and signaling pathway analysis with three-dimensional tumor spheroids in a microwell-based microfluidic chip for drug screening. Anal Chim Acta 2015; 898:85-92. [PMID: 26526913 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2015.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2015] [Revised: 10/04/2015] [Accepted: 10/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Currently, there has been a growing need for developing in vitro models to better reflect organism response to chemotherapy at tissue level. For this reason, a microfluidic platform was developed for mimicking physiological microenvironment of solid tumor with multicellular tumor spheroids (MTS) for anticancer drug screening. Importantly, the power of this system over traditional systems is that it is simple to operate and high integration in a more physiologically relevant context. As a proof of concept, long-term MTS cultures with uniform structure were realized on the microfluidic based platform. The response of doxorubicin and paclitaxel on different types of spheroids were simultaneously performed by in situ Live/Dead fluorescence stain to provide spatial distribution of dead cells as well as cytotoxicity information. In addition, the established platform combined with microplate reader was capable to determine the cytotoxicity of different sized MTS, showing a more powerful tool than cell staining examination at the end-point of assay. The HCT116 spheroids were then lysed on chip followed by signaling transduction pathway analysis. To our knowledge, the on chip drug screening study is the first to address the drug susceptibility testing and the offline detailed drug signaling pathway analysis combination on one system. Thus, this novel microfluidic platform provides a useful tool for drug screening with tumor spheroids, which is crucial for drug discovery and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongli Chen
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Key Lab of Chemical Genomics, School of Chemical Biology & Biotechnology, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Peking University, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Dan Gao
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base-Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China; Key Laboratory of Metabolomics at Shenzhen, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Hongxia Liu
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base-Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China; Key Laboratory of Metabolomics at Shenzhen, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Shuo Lin
- Key Lab of Chemical Genomics, School of Chemical Biology & Biotechnology, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Peking University, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yuyang Jiang
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; State Key Laboratory Breeding Base-Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China.
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