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Streutker EM, Devamoglu U, Vonk MC, Verdurmen WPR, Le Gac S. Fibrosis-on-Chip: A Guide to Recapitulate the Essential Features of Fibrotic Disease. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2303991. [PMID: 38536053 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202303991] [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: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Fibrosis, which is primarily marked by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, is a pathophysiological process associated with many disorders, which ultimately leads to organ dysfunction and poor patient outcomes. Despite the high prevalence of fibrosis, currently there exist few therapeutic options, and importantly, there is a paucity of in vitro models to accurately study fibrosis. This review discusses the multifaceted nature of fibrosis from the viewpoint of developing organ-on-chip (OoC) disease models, focusing on five key features: the ECM component, inflammation, mechanical cues, hypoxia, and vascularization. The potential of OoC technology is explored for better modeling these features in the context of studying fibrotic diseases and the interplay between various key features is emphasized. This paper reviews how organ-specific fibrotic diseases are modeled in OoC platforms, which elements are included in these existing models, and the avenues for novel research directions are highlighted. Finally, this review concludes with a perspective on how to address the current gap with respect to the inclusion of multiple features to yield more sophisticated and relevant models of fibrotic diseases in an OoC format.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma M Streutker
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, Nijmegen, 6525 GA, The Netherlands
| | - Utku Devamoglu
- Applied Microfluidics for BioEngineering Research, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnoloygy and TechMed Centre, Organ-on-Chip Centre, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, Enschede, 7522 NB, The Netherlands
| | - Madelon C Vonk
- Department of Rheumatology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, PO Box 9101, Nijmegen, 6500 HB, The Netherlands
| | - Wouter P R Verdurmen
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, Nijmegen, 6525 GA, The Netherlands
| | - Séverine Le Gac
- Applied Microfluidics for BioEngineering Research, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnoloygy and TechMed Centre, Organ-on-Chip Centre, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, Enschede, 7522 NB, The Netherlands
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2
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Suryavanshi P, Bodas D. Knockout cancer by nano-delivered immunotherapy using perfusion-aided scaffold-based tumor-on-a-chip. Nanotheranostics 2024; 8:380-400. [PMID: 38751938 PMCID: PMC11093718 DOI: 10.7150/ntno.87818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a multifactorial disease produced by mutations in the oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, which result in uncontrolled cell proliferation and resistance to cell death. Cancer progresses due to the escape of altered cells from immune monitoring, which is facilitated by the tumor's mutual interaction with its microenvironment. Understanding the mechanisms involved in immune surveillance evasion and the significance of the tumor microenvironment might thus aid in developing improved therapies. Although in vivo models are commonly utilized, they could be better for time, cost, and ethical concerns. As a result, it is critical to replicate an in vivo model and recreate the cellular and tissue-level functionalities. A 3D cell culture, which gives a 3D architecture similar to that found in vivo, is an appropriate model. Furthermore, numerous cell types can be cocultured, establishing cellular interactions between TME and tumor cells. Moreover, microfluidics perfusion can provide precision flow rates, thus simulating tissue/organ function. Immunotherapy can be used with the perfused 3D cell culture technique to help develop successful therapeutics. Immunotherapy employing nano delivery can target the spot and silence the responsible genes, ensuring treatment effectiveness while minimizing adverse effects. This study focuses on the importance of 3D cell culture in understanding the pathophysiology of 3D tumors and TME, the function of TME in drug resistance, tumor progression, and the development of advanced anticancer therapies for high-throughput drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Suryavanshi
- Nanobioscience Group, Agharkar Research Institute, G.G. Agarkar Road, Pune 411 004 India
- Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411 007 India
| | - Dhananjay Bodas
- Nanobioscience Group, Agharkar Research Institute, G.G. Agarkar Road, Pune 411 004 India
- Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411 007 India
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3
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Nolan J, Pearce OMT, Screen HRC, Knight MM, Verbruggen SW. Organ-on-a-Chip and Microfluidic Platforms for Oncology in the UK. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:635. [PMID: 36765593 PMCID: PMC9913518 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15030635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Organ-on-chip systems are capable of replicating complex tissue structures and physiological phenomena. The fine control of biochemical and biomechanical cues within these microphysiological systems provides opportunities for cancer researchers to build complex models of the tumour microenvironment. Interest in applying organ chips to investigate mechanisms such as metastatsis and to test therapeutics has grown rapidly, and this review draws together the published research using these microfluidic platforms to study cancer. We focus on both in-house systems and commercial platforms being used in the UK for fundamental discovery science and therapeutics testing. We cover the wide variety of cancers being investigated, ranging from common carcinomas to rare sarcomas, as well as secondary cancers. We also cover the broad sweep of different matrix microenvironments, physiological mechanical stimuli and immunological effects being replicated in these models. We examine microfluidic models specifically, rather than organoids or complex tissue or cell co-cultures, which have been reviewed elsewhere. However, there is increasing interest in incorporating organoids, spheroids and other tissue cultures into microfluidic organ chips and this overlap is included. Our review includes a commentary on cancer organ-chip models being developed and used in the UK, including work conducted by members of the UK Organ-on-a-Chip Technologies Network. We conclude with a reflection on the likely future of this rapidly expanding field of oncological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne Nolan
- Centre for Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
- Centre for Predictive In Vitro Models, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
- Barts Cancer Institute, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AD, UK
| | - Oliver M. T. Pearce
- Barts Cancer Institute, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AD, UK
| | - Hazel R. C. Screen
- Centre for Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
- Centre for Predictive In Vitro Models, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Martin M. Knight
- Centre for Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
- Centre for Predictive In Vitro Models, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Stefaan W. Verbruggen
- Centre for Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
- Centre for Predictive In Vitro Models, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 3JD, UK
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4
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Simitian G, Virumbrales-Muñoz M, Sánchez-de-Diego C, Beebe DJ, Kosoff D. Microfluidics in vascular biology research: a critical review for engineers, biologists, and clinicians. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:3618-3636. [PMID: 36047330 PMCID: PMC9530010 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00352j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Neovascularization, the formation of new blood vessels, has received much research attention due to its implications for physiological processes and diseases. Most studies using traditional in vitro and in vivo platforms find challenges in recapitulating key cellular and mechanical cues of the neovascularization processes. Microfluidic in vitro models have been presented as an alternative to these limitations due to their capacity to leverage microscale physics to control cell organization and integrate biochemical and mechanical cues, such as shear stress, cell-cell interactions, or nutrient gradients, making them an ideal option for recapitulating organ physiology. Much has been written about the use of microfluidics in vascular biology models from an engineering perspective. However, a review introducing the different models, components and progress for new potential adopters of these technologies was absent in the literature. Therefore, this paper aims to approach the use of microfluidic technologies in vascular biology from a perspective of biological hallmarks to be studied and written for a wide audience ranging from clinicians to engineers. Here we review applications of microfluidics in vascular biology research, starting with design considerations and fabrication techniques. After that, we review the state of the art in recapitulating angiogenesis and vasculogenesis, according to the hallmarks recapitulated and complexity of the models. Finally, we discuss emerging research areas in neovascularization, such as drug discovery, and potential future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grigor Simitian
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - María Virumbrales-Muñoz
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Cristina Sánchez-de-Diego
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - David J Beebe
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - David Kosoff
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
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5
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Kalot R, Mhanna R, Talhouk R. Organ-on-a-chip platforms as novel advancements for studying heterogeneity, metastasis, and drug efficacy in breast cancer. Pharmacol Ther 2022; 237:108156. [PMID: 35150784 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer has the highest cancer incidence rate in women worldwide. Therapies for breast cancer have shown high success rates, yet many cases of recurrence and drug resistance are still reported. Developing innovative strategies for studying breast cancer may improve therapeutic outcomes of the disease by providing better insight into the associated molecular mechanisms. A novel advancement in breast cancer research is the utilization of organ-on-a-chip (OOAC) technology to establish in vitro physiologically relevant breast cancer biomimetic models. This emerging technology combines microfluidics and tissue culturing methods to establish organ-specific micro fabricated culture models. Here, we shed light on the advantages of OOAC platforms over conventional in vivo and in vitro models in terms of mimicking tissue heterogeneity, disease progression, and facilitating pharmacological drug testing with a focus on models of the mammary gland in both normal and breast cancer states. By highlighting the various designs and applications of the breast-on-a-chip platforms, we show that the latter propose means to facilitate breast cancer-related studies and provide an efficient approach for therapeutic drug screening in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Kalot
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Rami Mhanna
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Rabih Talhouk
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon.
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7
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Ronaldson-Bouchard K, Baldassarri I, Tavakol DN, Graney PL, Samaritano M, Cimetta E, Vunjak-Novakovic G. Engineering complexity in human tissue models of cancer. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 184:114181. [PMID: 35278521 PMCID: PMC9035134 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Major progress in the understanding and treatment of cancer have tremendously improved our knowledge of this complex disease and improved the length and quality of patients' lives. Still, major challenges remain, in particular with respect to cancer metastasis which still escapes effective treatment and remains responsible for 90% of cancer related deaths. In recent years, the advances in cancer cell biology, oncology and tissue engineering converged into the engineered human tissue models of cancer that are increasingly recapitulating many aspects of cancer progression and response to drugs, in a patient-specific context. The complexity and biological fidelity of these models, as well as the specific questions they aim to investigate, vary in a very broad range. When selecting and designing these experimental models, the fundamental question is "how simple is complex enough" to accomplish a specific goal of cancer research. Here we review the state of the art in developing and using the human tissue models in cancer research and developmental drug screening. We describe the main classes of models providing different levels of biological fidelity and complexity, discuss their advantages and limitations, and propose a framework for designing an appropriate model for a given study. We close by outlining some of the current needs, opportunities and challenges in this rapidly evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kacey Ronaldson-Bouchard
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Ilaria Baldassarri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Daniel Naveed Tavakol
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Pamela L Graney
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Maria Samaritano
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Elisa Cimetta
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padua, Via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padova, Italy; Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza, Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, Italy
| | - Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Medicine, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, NY 10032, USA; College of Dental Medicine, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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8
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Palacio-Castañeda V, Velthuijs N, Le Gac S, Verdurmen WPR. Oxygen control: the often overlooked but essential piece to create better in vitro systems. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:1068-1092. [PMID: 35084420 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00603g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Variations in oxygen levels play key roles in numerous physiological and pathological processes, but are often not properly controlled in in vitro models, introducing a significant bias in experimental outcomes. Recent developments in microfluidic technology have introduced a paradigm shift by providing new opportunities to better mimic physiological and pathological conditions, which is achieved by both regulating and monitoring oxygen levels at the micrometre scale in miniaturized devices. In this review, we first introduce the nature and relevance of oxygen-dependent pathways in both physiological and pathological contexts. Subsequently, we discuss strategies to control oxygen in microfluidic devices, distinguishing between engineering approaches that operate at the device level during its fabrication and chemical approaches that involve the active perfusion of fluids oxygenated at a precise level or supplemented with oxygen-producing or oxygen-scavenging materials. In addition, we discuss readout approaches for monitoring oxygen levels at the cellular and tissue levels, focusing on electrochemical and optical detection schemes for high-resolution measurements directly on-chip. An overview of different applications in which microfluidic devices have been utilized to answer biological research questions is then provided. In the final section, we provide our vision for further technological refinements of oxygen-controlling devices and discuss how these devices can be employed to generate new fundamental insights regarding key scientific problems that call for emulating oxygen levels as encountered in vivo. We conclude by making the case that ultimately emulating physiological or pathological oxygen levels should become a standard feature in all in vitro cell, tissue, and organ models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Palacio-Castañeda
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Niels Velthuijs
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Séverine Le Gac
- Applied Microfluidics for BioEngineering Research, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology & TechMed Centre, Organ-on-a-chip Centre, University of Twente, Postbus 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
| | - Wouter P R Verdurmen
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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9
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Virumbrales-Muñoz M, Ayuso JM, Loken JR, Denecke KM, Rehman S, Skala MC, Abel EJ, Beebe DJ. Microphysiological model of the renal cell carcinoma to inform anti-angiogenic therapy. Biomaterials 2022; 283:121454. [PMID: 35299086 PMCID: PMC9254636 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Renal cell carcinomas are common genitourinary tumors characterized by high vascularization and strong reliance on glycolysis. Despite the many available therapies for renal cell carcinomas, first-line targeted therapies, such as cabozantinib, and durable reaponses are seen in only a small percentage of patients. Yet, little is known about the mechanisms that drive response (or lack thereof). This dearth of knowledge can be explained by the dynamic and complex microenvironment of renal carcinoma, which remains challenging to recapitulate in vitro. Here, we present a microphysiological model of renal cell carcinoma, including a tubular blood vessel model of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells and an adjacent 3D carcinoma model. Our model recapitulated hypoxia, glycolic metabolism, and sprouting angiogenesis. Using our model, we showed that cabozantinib altered cancer cell metabolism and decreased sprouting angiogenesis but did not restore barrier function. This microphysiological model could be helpful to elucidate, through multiple endpoints, the contributions of the relevant environmental components in eliciting a functional response or resistance to therapy in renal cell carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Virumbrales-Muñoz
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA; University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI, 53705, USA; Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Jose M Ayuso
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA; University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI, 53705, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Jack R Loken
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Kathryn M Denecke
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Shujah Rehman
- Morgridge Institute for Research, 330 N Orchard Street, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Melissa C Skala
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI, 53705, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA; Morgridge Institute for Research, 330 N Orchard Street, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - E Jason Abel
- Department of Urology University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - David J Beebe
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA; University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI, 53705, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
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Gonçalves IM, Carvalho V, Rodrigues RO, Pinho D, Teixeira SFCF, Moita A, Hori T, Kaji H, Lima R, Minas G. Organ-on-a-Chip Platforms for Drug Screening and Delivery in Tumor Cells: A Systematic Review. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14040935. [PMID: 35205683 PMCID: PMC8870045 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14040935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cancer is one of the diseases with a high mortality rate worldwide. Of the current strategies to study new diagnostic and treating tools, organs-on-chip are quite promising regarding the achievement of more personalized medicine. In this work, 75 out of 820 of the most recent published scientific articles were selected and analyzed through a systematic process. The selected articles present the different microfluidic platforms where cell culture was introduced and was used for the evaluation of cancer treatments efficacy and/or toxicity. Abstract The development of cancer models that rectify the simplicity of monolayer or static cell cultures physiologic microenvironment and, at the same time, replicate the human system more accurately than animal models has been a challenge in biomedical research. Organ-on-a-chip (OoC) devices are a solution that has been explored over the last decade. The combination of microfluidics and cell culture allows the design of a dynamic microenvironment suitable for the evaluation of treatments’ efficacy and effects, closer to the response observed in patients. This systematic review sums the studies from the last decade, where OoC with cancer cell cultures were used for drug screening assays. The studies were selected from three databases and analyzed following the research guidelines for systematic reviews proposed by PRISMA. In the selected studies, several types of cancer cells were evaluated, and the majority of treatments tested were standard chemotherapeutic drugs. Some studies reported higher drug resistance of the cultures on the OoC devices than on 2D cultures, which indicates the better resemblance to in vivo conditions of the former. Several studies also included the replication of the microvasculature or the combination of different cell cultures. The presence of vasculature can influence positively or negatively the drug efficacy since it contributes to a greater diffusion of the drug and also oxygen and nutrients. Co-cultures with liver cells contributed to the evaluation of the systemic toxicity of some drugs metabolites. Nevertheless, few studies used patient cells for the drug screening assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês M. Gonçalves
- METRICS, University of Minho, Alameda da Universidade, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal; (I.M.G.); (V.C.); (R.L.)
- IN+—Center for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Violeta Carvalho
- METRICS, University of Minho, Alameda da Universidade, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal; (I.M.G.); (V.C.); (R.L.)
- Center for MicroElectromechanical Systems (CMEMS-UMinho), Campus de Azurém, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal;
- ALGORITMI Center, Campus de Azurém, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal;
| | - Raquel O. Rodrigues
- Center for MicroElectromechanical Systems (CMEMS-UMinho), Campus de Azurém, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal;
- LABBELS-Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, 4806-909 Guimarães, Portugal
- Correspondence: (R.O.R.); (G.M.); Tel.: +351-253-510190 (ext. 604705) (R.O.R. & G.M.)
| | - Diana Pinho
- Center for MicroElectromechanical Systems (CMEMS-UMinho), Campus de Azurém, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal;
- LABBELS-Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, 4806-909 Guimarães, Portugal
| | | | - Ana Moita
- IN+—Center for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal;
- CINAMIL—Centro de Investigação Desenvolvimento e Inovação da Academia Militar, Academia Militar, Instituto Universitário Militar, Rua Gomes Freire, 1169-203 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Takeshi Hori
- Department of Biomechanics, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering (IBB), Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Chiyoda, Tokyo 101-0062, Japan; (T.H.); (H.K.)
| | - Hirokazu Kaji
- Department of Biomechanics, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering (IBB), Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Chiyoda, Tokyo 101-0062, Japan; (T.H.); (H.K.)
| | - Rui Lima
- METRICS, University of Minho, Alameda da Universidade, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal; (I.M.G.); (V.C.); (R.L.)
- CEFT, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Graça Minas
- Center for MicroElectromechanical Systems (CMEMS-UMinho), Campus de Azurém, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal;
- LABBELS-Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, 4806-909 Guimarães, Portugal
- Correspondence: (R.O.R.); (G.M.); Tel.: +351-253-510190 (ext. 604705) (R.O.R. & G.M.)
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Micro/nanofluidic devices for drug delivery. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2022; 187:9-39. [PMID: 35094782 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2021.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Micro/nanofluidic drug delivery systems have attracted significant attention as they offer unique advantages in targeted and controlled drug delivery. Based on the desired application, these systems can be categorized into three different groups: in vitro, in situ and in vivo microfluidic drug delivery platforms. In vitro microfluidic drug delivery platforms are closely linked with the emerging concept of lab-on-a-chip for cell culture studies. These systems can be used to administer drugs or therapeutic agents, mostly at the cellular or tissue level, to find the therapeutic index and can potentially be used for personalized medicine. In situ and in vivo microfluidic drug delivery platforms are still at the developmental stage and can be used for drug delivery at tissue or organ levels. A famous example of these systems are microneedles that can be used for painless and controllable delivery of drugs or vaccines through human skin. This chapter presents the cutting edge advances in the design and fabrication of in vitro microfluidic drug delivery systems that can be used for both cellular and tissue drug delivery. It also briefly discusses the in situ drug delivery platforms using microneedles.
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12
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Joint-on-chip platforms: entering a new era of in vitro models for arthritis. Nat Rev Rheumatol 2022; 18:217-231. [DOI: 10.1038/s41584-021-00736-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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13
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Carvalho BG, Ceccato BT, Michelon M, Han SW, de la Torre LG. Advanced Microfluidic Technologies for Lipid Nano-Microsystems from Synthesis to Biological Application. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:141. [PMID: 35057037 PMCID: PMC8781930 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14010141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Microfluidics is an emerging technology that can be employed as a powerful tool for designing lipid nano-microsized structures for biological applications. Those lipid structures can be used as carrying vehicles for a wide range of drugs and genetic materials. Microfluidic technology also allows the design of sustainable processes with less financial demand, while it can be scaled up using parallelization to increase production. From this perspective, this article reviews the recent advances in the synthesis of lipid-based nanostructures through microfluidics (liposomes, lipoplexes, lipid nanoparticles, core-shell nanoparticles, and biomimetic nanovesicles). Besides that, this review describes the recent microfluidic approaches to produce lipid micro-sized structures as giant unilamellar vesicles. New strategies are also described for the controlled release of the lipid payloads using microgels and droplet-based microfluidics. To address the importance of microfluidics for lipid-nanoparticle screening, an overview of how microfluidic systems can be used to mimic the cellular environment is also presented. Future trends and perspectives in designing novel nano and micro scales are also discussed herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna G. Carvalho
- Department of Material and Bioprocess Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas 13083-852, Brazil; (B.G.C.); (B.T.C.)
| | - Bruno T. Ceccato
- Department of Material and Bioprocess Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas 13083-852, Brazil; (B.G.C.); (B.T.C.)
| | - Mariano Michelon
- School of Chemical and Food Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG), Rio Grande 96203-900, Brazil;
| | - Sang W. Han
- Center for Cell Therapy and Molecular, Department of Biophysics, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo 04044-010, Brazil;
| | - Lucimara G. de la Torre
- Department of Material and Bioprocess Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas 13083-852, Brazil; (B.G.C.); (B.T.C.)
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14
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Recapitulating the Angiogenic Switch in a Hydrogel-Based 3D In Vitro Tumor-Stroma Model. Bioengineering (Basel) 2021; 8:bioengineering8110186. [PMID: 34821752 PMCID: PMC8614676 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering8110186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
To ensure nutrient and oxygen supply, tumors beyond a size of 1–2 mm3 need a connection to the vascular system. Thus, tumor cells modify physiological tissue homeostasis by secreting inflammatory and angiogenic cytokines. This leads to the activation of the tumor microenvironment and the turning of the angiogenic switch, resulting in tumor vascularization and growth. To inhibit tumor growth by developing efficient anti-angiogenic therapies, an in depth understanding of the molecular mechanism initiating angiogenesis is essential. Yet so far, predominantly 2D cell cultures or animal models have been used to clarify the interactions within the tumor stroma, resulting in poor transferability of the data obtained to the in vivo situation. Consequently, there is an abundant need for complex, humanized, 3D models in vitro. We established a dextran-hydrogel-based 3D organotypic in vitro model containing microtumor spheroids, macrophages, neutrophils, fibroblasts and endothelial cells, allowing for the analysis of tumor–stroma interactions in a controlled and modifiable environment. During the cultivation period of 21 days, the microtumor spheroids in the model grew in size and endothelial cells formed elongated tubular structures resembling capillary vessels, that appeared to extend towards the tumor spheroids. The tubular structures exhibited complex bifurcations and expanded without adding external angiogenic factors such as VEGF to the culture. To allow high-throughput screening of therapeutic candidates, the 3D cell culture model was successfully miniaturized to a 96-well format, while still maintaining the same level of tumor spheroid growth and vascular sprouting. The quantification of VEGF in the conditioned medium of these cultures showed a continuous increase during the cultivation period, suggesting the contribution of endogenous VEGF to the induction of the angiogenic switch and vascular sprouting. Thus, this model is highly suitable as a testing platform for novel anticancer therapeutics targeting the tumor as well as the vascular compartment.
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15
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A modular, reversible sealing, and reusable microfluidic device for drug screening. Anal Chim Acta 2021; 1185:339068. [PMID: 34711311 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2021.339068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Preclinical tests for evaluating potential drug candidates using conventional protocols can be exhaustive and high-cost processes. Microfluidic technologies that can speed up this process and allow fast screening of drugs are promising alternatives. This work presents the design, concept, and operational conditions of a simple, modular, and reversible sealing microdevice useful for drug screening. This microdevice allows for the operation of 4 parallel simultaneous conditions and can also generate a diffusive concentration gradient in sextuplicates. We used laminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMSLAM) and glass as building materials as proof of concept. The PDMSLAM parts can be reused since they can be easily sterilized. We cultured MCF-7 (Michigan Cancer Foundation-7) breast cancer cells. Cells were exposed to a doxorubicin diffusive concentration gradient for 3 h. They were monitored by automated microscopy, and after data processing, it was possible to determine cell viability as a function of doxorubicin concentration. The reversible sealing enabled the recovery of the tested cells and image acquisition. Therefore, this microdevice is a promising tool for drug screening that allows assessing the cellular behavior in dynamic conditions and the recovery of cells for afterward processing and imaging.
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16
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Osório LA, Silva E, Mackay RE. A Review of Biomaterials and Scaffold Fabrication for Organ-on-a-Chip (OOAC) Systems. Bioengineering (Basel) 2021; 8:113. [PMID: 34436116 PMCID: PMC8389238 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering8080113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug and chemical development along with safety tests rely on the use of numerous clinical models. This is a lengthy process where animal testing is used as a standard for pre-clinical trials. However, these models often fail to represent human physiopathology. This may lead to poor correlation with results from later human clinical trials. Organ-on-a-Chip (OOAC) systems are engineered microfluidic systems, which recapitulate the physiochemical environment of a specific organ by emulating the perfusion and shear stress cellular tissue undergoes in vivo and could replace current animal models. The success of culturing cells and cell-derived tissues within these systems is dependent on the scaffold chosen; hence, scaffolds are critical for the success of OOACs in research. A literature review was conducted looking at current OOAC systems to assess the advantages and disadvantages of different materials and manufacturing techniques used for scaffold production; and the alternatives that could be tailored from the macro tissue engineering research field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana A. Osório
- Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, Brunel University London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK;
| | - Elisabete Silva
- Department of Life Science, Brunel University London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK;
| | - Ruth E. Mackay
- Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, Brunel University London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK;
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17
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Song K, Zu X, Du Z, Hu Z, Wang J, Li J. Diversity Models and Applications of 3D Breast Tumor-on-a-Chip. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:mi12070814. [PMID: 34357224 PMCID: PMC8306159 DOI: 10.3390/mi12070814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Breast disease is one of the critical diseases that plague females, as is known, breast cancer has high mortality, despite significant pathophysiological progress during the past few years. Novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are needed to break the stalemate. An organ-on-chip approach is considered due to its ability to repeat the real conditions found in the body on microfluidic chips, offsetting the shortcomings of traditional 2D culture and animal tests. In recent years, the organ-on-chip approach has shown diversity, recreating the structure and functional units of the real organs/tissues. The applications were also developed rapidly from the laboratory to the industrialized market. This review focuses on breast tumor-on-a-chip approaches concerning the diversity models and applications. The models are summarized and categorized by typical biological reconstitution, considering the design and fabrication of the various breast models. The breast tumor-on-a-chip approach is a typical representative of organ chips, which are one of the precedents in the market. The applications are roughly divided into two categories: fundamental mechanism research and biological medicine. Finally, we discuss the prospect and deficiencies of the emerging technology. It has excellent prospects in all of the application fields, however there exist some deficiencies for promotion, such as the stability of the structure and function, and uniformity for quantity production.
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18
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Terrell JA, Jones CG, Kabandana GKM, Chen C. From cells-on-a-chip to organs-on-a-chip: scaffolding materials for 3D cell culture in microfluidics. J Mater Chem B 2021; 8:6667-6685. [PMID: 32567628 DOI: 10.1039/d0tb00718h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
It is an emerging research area to integrate scaffolding materials in microfluidic devices for 3D cell culture (organs-on-a-chip). The technology of organs-on-a-chip holds the potential to obviate the gaps between pre-clinical and clinical studies. As accumulating evidence shows the importance of extracellular matrix in in vitro cell culture, significant efforts have been made to integrate 3D ECM/scaffolding materials in microfluidics. There are two families of materials that are commonly used for this purpose: hydrogels and electrospun fibers. In this review, we briefly discuss the properties of the materials, and focus on the various technologies to obtain the materials (e.g. extraction of collagen from animal tissues) and to include the materials in microfluidic devices. Challenges and potential solutions of the current materials and technologies were also thoroughly discussed. At the end, we provide a perspective on future efforts to make these technologies more translational to broadly benefit pharmaceutical and pathophysiological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- John A Terrell
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 21250, MD, USA.
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19
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Mapanao AK, Che PP, Sarogni P, Sminia P, Giovannetti E, Voliani V. Tumor grafted - chick chorioallantoic membrane as an alternative model for biological cancer research and conventional/nanomaterial-based theranostics evaluation. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2021; 17:947-968. [PMID: 33565346 DOI: 10.1080/17425255.2021.1879047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Advancements in cancer management and treatment are associated with strong preclinical research data, in which reliable cancer models are demanded. Indeed, inconsistent preclinical findings and stringent regulations following the 3Rs principle of reduction, refinement, and replacement of conventional animal models currently pose challenges in the development and translation of efficient technologies. The chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) is a system for the evaluation of treatment effects on the vasculature, therefore suitable for studies on angiogenesis. Apart from vascular effects, the model is now increasingly employed as a preclinical cancer model following tumor-grafting procedures.Areas covered: The broad application of CAM tumor model is highlighted along with the methods for analyzing the neoplasm and vascular system. The presented and cited investigations focus on cancer biology and treatment, encompassing both conventional and emerging nanomaterial-based modalities.Expert opinion: The CAM tumor model finds increased significance given the influences of angiogenesis and the tumor microenvironment in cancer behavior, then providing a qualified miniature system for oncological research. Ultimately, the establishment and increased employment of such a model may resolve some of the limitations present in the standard preclinical tumor models, thereby redefining the preclinical research workflow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Katrina Mapanao
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation@NEST, Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia, Pisa, Italy.,NEST-Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
| | - Pei Pei Che
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Cancer Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Cancer Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Patrizia Sarogni
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation@NEST, Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia, Pisa, Italy
| | - Peter Sminia
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Cancer Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Elisa Giovannetti
- Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Cancer Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Cancer Pharmacology Lab, AIRC Start-Up Unit, Fondazione Pisana per La Scienza, Pisa, Italy
| | - Valerio Voliani
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation@NEST, Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia, Pisa, Italy
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20
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Ayuso JM, Rehman S, Virumbrales-Munoz M, McMinn PH, Geiger P, Fitzgerald C, Heaster T, Skala MC, Beebe DJ. Microfluidic tumor-on-a-chip model to evaluate the role of tumor environmental stress on NK cell exhaustion. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/8/eabc2331. [PMID: 33597234 PMCID: PMC7888951 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abc2331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Solid tumors generate a suppressive environment that imposes an overwhelming burden on the immune system. Nutrient depletion, waste product accumulation, hypoxia, and pH acidification severely compromise the capacity of effector immune cells such as T and natural killer (NK) cells to destroy cancer cells. However, the specific molecular mechanisms driving immune suppression, as well as the capacity of immune cells to adapt to the suppressive environment, are not completely understood. Thus, here, we used an in vitro microfluidic tumor-on-a-chip platform to evaluate how NK cells respond to the tumor-induced suppressive environment. The results demonstrated that the suppressive environment created by the tumor gradually eroded NK cell cytotoxic capacity, leading to compromised NK cell surveillance and tumor tolerance. Further, NK cell exhaustion persisted for an extended period of time after removing NK cells from the microfluidic platform. Last, the addition of checkpoint inhibitors and immunomodulatory agents alleviated NK cell exhaustion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose M Ayuso
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - Shujah Rehman
- Morgridge Institute for Research, 330 N Orchard Street, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | - Patrick H McMinn
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Peter Geiger
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Cate Fitzgerald
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Tiffany Heaster
- Morgridge Institute for Research, 330 N Orchard Street, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Melissa C Skala
- Morgridge Institute for Research, 330 N Orchard Street, Madison, WI, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - David J Beebe
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
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21
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Virumbrales-Muñoz M, Chen J, Ayuso J, Lee M, Abel EJ, Beebe DJ. Organotypic primary blood vessel models of clear cell renal cell carcinoma for single-patient clinical trials. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:4420-4432. [PMID: 33103699 PMCID: PMC8743028 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc00252f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a common genitourinary cancer associated with the development of abnormal tumor angiogenesis. Although multiple anti-angiogenic therapies have been developed, responses to individual treatment are highly variable between patients. Thus, the use of one-patient clinical trials has been suggested as an alternative to standard trials. We used a microfluidic device to generate organotypic primary patient-specific blood vessel models using normal (NEnC) and tumor-associated primary CD31+ selected cells (TEnC). Our model was able to recapitulate differences in angiogenic sprouting and vessel permeability that characterize normal and tumor-associated vessels. We analyzed the expression profile of vessel models to define vascular normalization in a patient-specific manner. Using this data, we identified actionable targets to normalize TEnC vessel function to a more NEnC-like phenotype. Finally, we tested two of these drugs in our patient-specific models to determine the efficiency in restoring vessel function showing the potential of the model for single-patient clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Virumbrales-Muñoz
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, USA.
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22
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Lugo-Cintrón KM, Ayuso JM, White BR, Harari PM, Ponik S, Beebe DJ, Gong MM, Virumbrales-Muñoz M. Matrix density drives 3D organotypic lymphatic vessel activation in a microfluidic model of the breast tumor microenvironment. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:1586-1600. [PMID: 32297896 PMCID: PMC7330815 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc00099j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Lymphatic vessels (LVs) have been suggested as a preferential conduit for metastatic progression in breast cancer, where a correlation between the occurrence of lymph node metastasis and an increased extracellular matrix (ECM) density has been reported. However, the effect of ECM density on LV function is largely unknown. To better understand these effects, we used a microfluidic device to recreate tubular LVs in a collagen type I matrix. The density of the matrix was tailored to mimic normal breast tissue using a low-density collagen (LD-3 mg mL-1) and cancerous breast tissue using a high-density collagen (HD-6 mg mL-1). We investigated the effect of ECM density on LV morphology, growth, cytokine secretion, and barrier function. LVs cultured in HD matrices showed morphological changes as compared to LVs cultured in a LD matrix. Specifically, LVs cultured in HD matrices had a 3-fold higher secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-6, and a leakier phenotype, suggesting LVs acquired characteristics of activated vessels. Interestingly, LV leakiness was mitigated by blocking the IL-6 receptor on the lymphatic ECs, maintaining endothelium permeability at similar levels of LV cultured in a LD matrix. To recreate a more in vivo microenvironment, we incorporated metastatic breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) into the LD and HD matrices. For HD matrices, co-culture with MDA-MB-231 cells exacerbated vessel leakiness and secretion of IL-6. In summary, our data suggest that (1) ECM density is an important microenvironmental cue that affects LV function in the breast tumor microenvironment (TME), (2) dense matrices condition LVs towards an activated phenotype and (3) blockade of IL-6 signaling may be a potential therapeutic target to mitigate LV dysfunction. Overall, modeling LVs and their interactions with the TME can help identify novel therapeutic targets and, in turn, advance therapeutic discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina M. Lugo-Cintrón
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - José M. Ayuso
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Morgridge Institute for Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Bridget R. White
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Paul M. Harari
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Suzanne Ponik
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - David J. Beebe
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Max M. Gong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Trine University, Angola, IN, USA
| | - María Virumbrales-Muñoz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
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23
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Virumbrales-Muñoz M, Livingston MK, Farooqui M, Skala MC, Beebe DJ, Ayuso JM. Development of a Microfluidic Array to Study Drug Response in Breast Cancer. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24234385. [PMID: 31801265 PMCID: PMC6930663 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24234385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Luminal geometries are common structures in biology, which are challenging to mimic using conventional in vitro techniques based on the use of Petri dishes. In this context, microfluidic systems can mimic the lumen geometry, enabling a large variety of studies. However, most microfluidic models still rely on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a material that is not amenable for high-throughput fabrication and presents some limitations compared with other materials such as polystyrene. Thus, we have developed a microfluidic device array to generate multiple bio-relevant luminal structures utilizing polystyrene and micro-milling. This platform offers a scalable alternative to conventional microfluidic devices designed in PDMS. Additionally, the use of polystyrene has well described advantages, such as lower permeability to hydrophobic molecules compared with PDMS, while maintaining excellent viability and optical properties. Breast cancer cells cultured in the devices exhibited high cell viability similar to PDMS-based microdevices. Further, co-culture experiments with different breast cell types showed the potential of the model to study breast cancer invasion. Finally, we demonstrated the potential of the microfluidic array for drug screening, testing chemotherapy drugs and photodynamic therapy agents for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Virumbrales-Muñoz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (M.V.-M.); (M.F.)
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 750 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53726, USA
| | - Megan K. Livingston
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706, USA;
| | - Mehtab Farooqui
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (M.V.-M.); (M.F.)
| | - Melissa C. Skala
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (M.V.-M.); (M.F.)
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- Morgridge Institute for Research, 330 N Orchard street, Madison, WI 53715, USA
- Correspondence: (M.C.S.); (D.J.B.); (J.M.A.)
| | - David J. Beebe
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (M.V.-M.); (M.F.)
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 750 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53726, USA
- Correspondence: (M.C.S.); (D.J.B.); (J.M.A.)
| | - Jose M. Ayuso
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (M.V.-M.); (M.F.)
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 750 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53726, USA
- Morgridge Institute for Research, 330 N Orchard street, Madison, WI 53715, USA
- Correspondence: (M.C.S.); (D.J.B.); (J.M.A.)
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24
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Virumbrales-Muñoz M, Ayuso JM, Lacueva A, Randelovic T, Livingston MK, Beebe DJ, Oliván S, Pereboom D, Doblare M, Fernández L, Ochoa I. Enabling cell recovery from 3D cell culture microfluidic devices for tumour microenvironment biomarker profiling. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6199. [PMID: 30996291 PMCID: PMC6470149 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42529-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumour microenvironment (TME) has recently drawn much attention due to its profound impact on tumour development, drug resistance and patient outcome. There is an increasing interest in new therapies that target the TME. Nonetheless, most established in vitro models fail to include essential cues of the TME. Microfluidics can be used to reproduce the TME in vitro and hence provide valuable insight on tumour evolution and drug sensitivity. However, microfluidics remains far from well-established mainstream molecular and cell biology methods. Therefore, we have developed a quick and straightforward collagenase-based enzymatic method to recover cells embedded in a 3D hydrogel in a microfluidic device with no impact on cell viability. We demonstrate the validity of this method on two different cell lines in a TME microfluidic model. Cells were successfully retrieved with high viability, and we characterised the different cell death mechanisms via AMNIS image cytometry in our model.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Virumbrales-Muñoz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin, 53705, United States
| | - Jose M Ayuso
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin, 53705, United States.,Medical Engineering, Morgridge Institute for Research, 330 N Orchard street, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Alodia Lacueva
- Group of Applied Mechanics and Bioengineering (AMB), Aragón Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.,Centro Investigacion Biomedica en Red. Bioingenieria, biomateriales y nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain.,Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragón), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Teodora Randelovic
- Group of Applied Mechanics and Bioengineering (AMB), Aragón Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.,Centro Investigacion Biomedica en Red. Bioingenieria, biomateriales y nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain.,Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragón), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Megan K Livingston
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin, 53705, United States.,Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA
| | - David J Beebe
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin, 53705, United States.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin, 53705, United States
| | - Sara Oliván
- Group of Applied Mechanics and Bioengineering (AMB), Aragón Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.,Centro Investigacion Biomedica en Red. Bioingenieria, biomateriales y nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain.,Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragón), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Desirée Pereboom
- Servicio General de Apoyo a la Investigación de Citómica, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Manuel Doblare
- Group of Applied Mechanics and Bioengineering (AMB), Aragón Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.,Centro Investigacion Biomedica en Red. Bioingenieria, biomateriales y nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain.,Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragón), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Luis Fernández
- Group of Applied Mechanics and Bioengineering (AMB), Aragón Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.,Centro Investigacion Biomedica en Red. Bioingenieria, biomateriales y nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain.,Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragón), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ignacio Ochoa
- Group of Applied Mechanics and Bioengineering (AMB), Aragón Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain. .,Centro Investigacion Biomedica en Red. Bioingenieria, biomateriales y nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain. .,Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragón), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Zaragoza, Spain.
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25
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Hadi LM, Yaghini E, Stamati K, Loizidou M, MacRobert AJ. Therapeutic enhancement of a cytotoxic agent using photochemical internalisation in 3D compressed collagen constructs of ovarian cancer. Acta Biomater 2018; 81:80-92. [PMID: 30267880 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2018.09.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Revised: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Photochemical internalisation (PCI) is a method for enhancing delivery of drugs to their intracellular target sites of action. In this study we investigated the efficacy of PCI using a porphyrin photosensitiser and a cytotoxic agent on spheroid and non-spheroid compressed collagen 3D constructs of ovarian cancer versus conventional 2D culture. The therapeutic responses of two human carcinoma cell lines (SKOV3 and HEY) were compared using a range of assays including optical imaging. The treatment was shown to be effective in non-spheroid constructs of both cell lines causing a significant and synergistic reduction in cell viability measured at 48 or 96 h post-illumination. In the larger spheroid constructs, PCI was still effective but required higher saporin and photosensitiser doses. Moreover, in contrast to the 2D and non-spheroid experiments, where comparable efficacy was found for the two cell lines, HEY spheroid constructs were found to be more susceptible to PCI and a lower dose of saporin could be used. PCI treatment was observed to induce death principally by apoptosis in the 3D constructs compared to the mostly necrotic cell death caused by PDT. At low oxygen levels (1%) both PDT and PCI were significantly less effective in the constructs. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Assessment of new drugs or delivery systems for cancer therapy prior to conducting in vivo studies often relies on the use of conventional 2D cell culture, however 3D cancer constructs can provide more physiologically relevant information owing to their 3D architecture and the presence of an extracellular matrix. This study investigates the efficacy of Photochemical Internalisation mediated drug delivery in 3D constructs. In 3D cultures, both oxygen and drug delivery to the cells are limited by diffusion through the extracellular matrix unlike 2D models, and in our model we have used compressed collagen constructs where the density of collagen mimics physiological values. These 3D constructs are therefore well suited to studying drug delivery using PCI. Our study highlights the potential of these constructs for identifying differences in therapeutic response to PCI of two ovarian carcinoma lines.
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26
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Mannino RG, Qiu Y, Lam WA. Endothelial cell culture in microfluidic devices for investigating microvascular processes. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2018; 12:042203. [PMID: 29861814 PMCID: PMC5953751 DOI: 10.1063/1.5024901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Numerous conditions and disease states such as sickle cell disease, malaria, thrombotic microangiopathy, and stroke significantly impact the microvasculature function and its role in disease progression. Understanding the role of cellular interactions and microvascular hemodynamic forces in the context of disease is crucial to understanding disease pathophysiology. In vivo models of microvascular disease using animal models often coupled with intravital microscopy have long been utilized to investigate microvascular phenomena. However, these methods suffer from some major drawbacks, including the inability to tightly and quantitatively control experimental conditions, the difficulty of imaging multiple microvascular beds within a living organism, and the inability to isolate specific microvascular geometries such as bifurcations. Thus, there exists a need for in vitro microvascular models that can mitigate the drawbacks associated with in vivo systems. To that end, microfluidics has been widely used to develop such models, as it allows for tight control of system inputs, facile imaging, and the ability to develop robust and repeatable systems with well-defined geometries. Incorporating endothelial cells to branching microfluidic models allows for the development of "endothelialized" systems that accurately recapitulate physiological microvessels. In this review, we summarize the field of endothelialized microfluidics, specifically focusing on fabrication methods, limitations, and applications of these systems. We then speculate on future directions and applications of these cutting edge technologies. We believe that this review of the field is of importance to vascular biologists and bioengineers who aim to utilize microfluidic technologies to solve vascular problems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Wilbur A. Lam
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: . Tel.: 404-727-7473. Present address: 448 Emory Children's Center, 2015 Uppergate Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA
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27
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Mannino RG, Pandian NK, Jain A, Lam WA. Engineering "Endothelialized" Microfluidics for Investigating Vascular and Hematologic Processes Using Non-Traditional Fabrication Techniques. CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2017; 5:13-20. [PMID: 29756078 DOI: 10.1016/j.cobme.2017.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Investigating the complex interplay between blood cells and the endothelium is crucial in understanding the pathophysiology of many diseases. Observation of the in vivo vasculature is difficult due to the complexities of vessel geometry, limited visualization capability, as well as variability and complexity inherent to biologic systems. Therefore, in vitro systems serve as ideal tools to study these cellular interactions. Microfluidic technologies are an ideal tool for recapitulating the vasculature in vivo as they can be used to fabricate fluidic channels on the size scale capillaries using gas permeable, biologically inert, and optically transparent substrates. Microfluidic channels can be vascularized by coating the inner surface of the microchannels with a confluent monolayer of endothelial cells, representing a reductionist, tightly controlled, in vitro model of the microvasculature. In this review, we present advances in the field of "endothelialized" microfluidics, focusing specifically on non-traditional fabrication and endothelialization techniques. We then summarize the various applications of endothelialized microfluidics, and speculate on the future directions of the field, including the exciting applications to personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert G Mannino
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University, Atlanta, GA
- The Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
- Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Atlanta, GA
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center
- Institute of Electronics and Nanotechnology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
| | - Navaneeth Kr Pandian
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Abhishek Jain
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Wilbur A Lam
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University, Atlanta, GA
- The Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
- Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Atlanta, GA
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center
- Institute of Electronics and Nanotechnology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
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