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Ahmad Zawawi SS, Salleh EA, Musa M. Spheroids and organoids derived from colorectal cancer as tools for in vitro drug screening. EXPLORATION OF TARGETED ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY 2024; 5:409-431. [PMID: 38745769 PMCID: PMC11090692 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2024.00226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a heterogeneous disease. Conventional two-dimensional (2D) culture employing cell lines was developed to study the molecular properties of CRC in vitro. Although these cell lines which are isolated from the tumor niche in which cancer develop, the translation to human model such as studying drug response is often hindered by the inability of cell lines to recapture original tumor features and the lack of heterogeneous clinical tumors represented by this 2D model, differed from in vivo condition. These limitations which may be overcome by utilizing three-dimensional (3D) culture consisting of spheroids and organoids. Over the past decade, great advancements have been made in optimizing culture method to establish spheroids and organoids of solid tumors including of CRC for multiple purposes including drug screening and establishing personalized medicine. These structures have been proven to be versatile and robust models to study CRC progression and deciphering its heterogeneity. This review will describe on advances in 3D culture technology and the application as well as the challenges of CRC-derived spheroids and organoids as a mode to screen for anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elyn Amiela Salleh
- Human Genome Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia
| | - Marahaini Musa
- Human Genome Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia
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2
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Fu J, Feng Y, Sun Y, Yi R, Tian J, Zhao W, Sun D, Zhang C. A Multi-Drug Concentration Gradient Mixing Chip: A Novel Platform for High-Throughput Drug Combination Screening. BIOSENSORS 2024; 14:212. [PMID: 38785686 PMCID: PMC11117479 DOI: 10.3390/bios14050212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Combinatorial drug therapy has emerged as a critically important strategy in medical research and patient treatment and involves the use of multiple drugs in concert to achieve a synergistic effect. This approach can enhance therapeutic efficacy while simultaneously mitigating adverse side effects. However, the process of identifying optimal drug combinations, including their compositions and dosages, is often a complex, costly, and time-intensive endeavor. To surmount these hurdles, we propose a novel microfluidic device capable of simultaneously generating multiple drug concentration gradients across an interlinked array of culture chambers. This innovative setup allows for the real-time monitoring of live cell responses. With minimal effort, researchers can now explore the concentration-dependent effects of single-agent and combination drug therapies. Taking neural stem cells (NSCs) as a case study, we examined the impacts of various growth factors-epithelial growth factor (EGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-on the differentiation of NSCs. Our findings indicate that an overdose of any single growth factor leads to an upsurge in the proportion of differentiated NSCs. Interestingly, the regulatory effects of these growth factors can be modulated by the introduction of additional growth factors, whether singly or in combination. Notably, a reduced concentration of these additional factors resulted in a decreased number of differentiated NSCs. Our results affirm that the successful application of this microfluidic device for the generation of multi-drug concentration gradients has substantial potential to revolutionize drug combination screening. This advancement promises to streamline the process and accelerate the discovery of effective therapeutic drug combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahao Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, Institute of Photonics and Photon-Technology, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
| | - Yibo Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, Institute of Photonics and Photon-Technology, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
| | - Yu Sun
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China (R.Y.)
| | - Ruiya Yi
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China (R.Y.)
| | - Jing Tian
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China (R.Y.)
- Huaxin Microfish Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Taicang 215400, China
- Center for Automated and Innovative Drug Discovery, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, Institute of Photonics and Photon-Technology, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
| | - Dan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, Institute of Photonics and Photon-Technology, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
- Huaxin Microfish Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Taicang 215400, China
- Center for Automated and Innovative Drug Discovery, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
| | - Ce Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, Institute of Photonics and Photon-Technology, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
- Huaxin Microfish Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Taicang 215400, China
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3
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Giannitelli SM, Peluzzi V, Raniolo S, Roscilli G, Trombetta M, Mozetic P, Rainer A. On-chip recapitulation of the tumor microenvironment: A decade of progress. Biomaterials 2024; 306:122482. [PMID: 38301325 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
One of the hurdles to the development of new anticancer therapies is the lack of in vitro models which faithfully reproduce the in vivo tumor microenvironment (TME). Understanding the dynamic relationships between the components of the TME in a controllable, scalable, and reliable setting would indeed support the discovery of biological targets impacting cancer diagnosis and therapy. Cancer research is increasingly shifting from traditional two-dimensional (2D) cell culture toward three-dimensional (3D) culture models, which have been demonstrated to increase the significance and predictive value of in vitro data. In this scenario, microphysiological systems (also known as organs-on-chip) have emerged as a relevant technological platform enabling more predictive investigation of cell-cell and cell-ECM interplay in cancer, attracting a significant research effort in the last years. This review illustrates one decade of progress in the field of tumor-microenvironment-on-chip (TMOC) approaches, exploiting either cell-laden microfluidic chambers or microfluidic confined tumor spheroids to model the TME. TMOCs have been designed to recapitulate several aspects of the TME, including tumor cells, the tumor-associated stroma, the immune system, and the vascular component. Significantly, the last aspect has emerged for its pivotal role in orchestrating cellular interactions and modulating drug pharmacokinetics on-chip. A further advancement has been represented by integration of TMOCs into multi-organ microphysiological systems, with the final aim to follow the metastatic cascade to target organs and to study the effects of chemotherapies at a systemic level. We highlight that the increased degree of complexity achieved by the most advanced TMOC models has enabled scientists to shed new light on the role of microenvironmental factors in tumor progression, metastatic cascade, and response to drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Giannitelli
- Department of Science and Technology for Sustainable Development and One Health, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, via Álvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128, Rome, Italy.
| | - V Peluzzi
- Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128, Rome, Italy.
| | - S Raniolo
- Department of Science and Technology for Sustainable Development and One Health, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, via Álvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128, Rome, Italy.
| | - G Roscilli
- Takis s.r.l., Via di Castel Romano 100, 00128, Rome, Italy.
| | - M Trombetta
- Department of Science and Technology for Sustainable Development and One Health, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, via Álvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128, Rome, Italy.
| | - P Mozetic
- Institute of Nanotechnology (NANOTEC), National Research Council, via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy.
| | - A Rainer
- Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128, Rome, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, via Álvaro del Portillo 200, 00128, Rome, Italy.
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4
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Leasure CS, Neuert G. Modelling patient drug exposure profiles in vitro to narrow the valley of death. NATURE REVIEWS BIOENGINEERING 2024; 2:196-197. [PMID: 38873361 PMCID: PMC11175168 DOI: 10.1038/s44222-024-00160-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Catherine S. Leasure
- The Office of Biomedical Research Education and Training, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Gregor Neuert
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Inflammation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
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5
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Wu Z, Huang D, Wang J, Zhao Y, Sun W, Shen X. Engineering Heterogeneous Tumor Models for Biomedical Applications. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2304160. [PMID: 37946674 PMCID: PMC10767453 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202304160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Tumor tissue engineering holds great promise for replicating the physiological and behavioral characteristics of tumors in vitro. Advances in this field have led to new opportunities for studying the tumor microenvironment and exploring potential anti-cancer therapeutics. However, the main obstacle to the widespread adoption of tumor models is the poor understanding and insufficient reconstruction of tumor heterogeneity. In this review, the current progress of engineering heterogeneous tumor models is discussed. First, the major components of tumor heterogeneity are summarized, which encompasses various signaling pathways, cell proliferations, and spatial configurations. Then, contemporary approaches are elucidated in tumor engineering that are guided by fundamental principles of tumor biology, and the potential of a bottom-up approach in tumor engineering is highlighted. Additionally, the characterization approaches and biomedical applications of tumor models are discussed, emphasizing the significant role of engineered tumor models in scientific research and clinical trials. Lastly, the challenges of heterogeneous tumor models in promoting oncology research and tumor therapy are described and key directions for future research are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuhao Wu
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower HospitalSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
| | - Danqing Huang
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower HospitalSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
| | - Jinglin Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower HospitalSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
| | - Yuanjin Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower HospitalSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryThe First Affiliated HospitalWenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhou325035China
| | - Weijian Sun
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryThe Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhou325027China
| | - Xian Shen
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower HospitalSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryThe First Affiliated HospitalWenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhou325035China
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6
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Moon HR, Surianarayanan N, Singh T, Han B. Microphysiological systems as reliable drug discovery and evaluation tools: Evolution from innovation to maturity. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2023; 17:061504. [PMID: 38162229 PMCID: PMC10756708 DOI: 10.1063/5.0179444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Microphysiological systems (MPSs), also known as organ-on-chip or disease-on-chip, have recently emerged to reconstitute the in vivo cellular microenvironment of various organs and diseases on in vitro platforms. These microfluidics-based platforms are developed to provide reliable drug discovery and regulatory evaluation testbeds. Despite recent emergences and advances of various MPS platforms, their adoption of drug discovery and evaluation processes still lags. This delay is mainly due to a lack of rigorous standards with reproducibility and reliability, and practical difficulties to be adopted in pharmaceutical research and industry settings. This review discusses the current and potential use of MPS platforms in drug discovery processes while considering the context of several key steps during drug discovery processes, including target identification and validation, preclinical evaluation, and clinical trials. Opportunities and challenges are also discussed for the broader dissemination and adoption of MPSs in various drug discovery and regulatory evaluation steps. Addressing these challenges will transform long and expensive drug discovery and evaluation processes into more efficient discovery, screening, and approval of innovative drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Ran Moon
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | | | - Tarun Singh
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Bumsoo Han
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:. Tel: +1-765-494-5626
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7
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Steinberg E, Friedman R, Goldstein Y, Friedman N, Beharier O, Demma JA, Zamir G, Hubert A, Benny O. A fully 3D-printed versatile tumor-on-a-chip allows multi-drug screening and correlation with clinical outcomes for personalized medicine. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1157. [PMID: 37957280 PMCID: PMC10643569 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05531-5] [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: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Optimal clinical outcomes in cancer treatments could be achieved through the development of reliable, precise ex vivo tumor models that function as drug screening platforms for patient-targeted therapies. Microfluidic tumor-on-chip technology is emerging as a preferred tool since it enables the complex set-ups and recapitulation of the physiologically relevant physical microenvironment of tumors. In order to overcome the common hindrances encountered while using this technology, a fully 3D-printed device was developed that sustains patient-derived multicellular spheroids long enough to conduct multiple drug screening tests. This tool is both cost effective and possesses four necessary characteristics of effective microfluidic devices: transparency, biocompatibility, versatility, and sample accessibility. Compelling correlations which demonstrate a clinical proof of concept were found after testing and comparing different chemotherapies on tumor spheroids, derived from ten patients, to their clinical outcomes. This platform offers a potential solution for personalized medicine by functioning as a predictive drug-performance tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliana Steinberg
- The Institute for Drug Research, The School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Roy Friedman
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Center for Interdisciplinary Data Research, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yoel Goldstein
- The Institute for Drug Research, The School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Nethanel Friedman
- The Institute for Drug Research, The School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ofer Beharier
- Hadassah Medical Center and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Jonathan Abraham Demma
- Department of General Surgery, Hadassah Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Gideon Zamir
- Department of General Surgery, Hadassah Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ayala Hubert
- Oncology Department, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ofra Benny
- The Institute for Drug Research, The School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
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8
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Bouquerel C, Dubrova A, Hofer I, Phan DTT, Bernheim M, Ladaigue S, Cavaniol C, Maddalo D, Cabel L, Mechta-Grigoriou F, Wilhelm C, Zalcman G, Parrini MC, Descroix S. Bridging the gap between tumor-on-chip and clinics: a systematic review of 15 years of studies. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:3906-3935. [PMID: 37592893 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00531c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Over the past 15 years, the field of oncology research has witnessed significant progress in the development of new cell culture models, such as tumor-on-chip (ToC) systems. In this comprehensive overview, we present a multidisciplinary perspective by bringing together physicists, biologists, clinicians, and experts from pharmaceutical companies to highlight the current state of ToC research, its unique features, and the challenges it faces. To offer readers a clear and quantitative understanding of the ToC field, we conducted an extensive systematic analysis of more than 300 publications related to ToC from 2005 to 2022. ToC offer key advantages over other in vitro models by enabling precise control over various parameters. These parameters include the properties of the extracellular matrix, mechanical forces exerted on cells, the physico-chemical environment, cell composition, and the architecture of the tumor microenvironment. Such fine control allows ToC to closely replicate the complex microenvironment and interactions within tumors, facilitating the study of cancer progression and therapeutic responses in a highly representative manner. Importantly, by incorporating patient-derived cells or tumor xenografts, ToC models have demonstrated promising results in terms of clinical validation. We also examined the potential of ToC for pharmaceutical industries in which ToC adoption is expected to occur gradually. Looking ahead, given the high failure rate of clinical trials and the increasing emphasis on the 3Rs principles (replacement, reduction, refinement of animal experimentation), ToC models hold immense potential for cancer research. In the next decade, data generated from ToC models could potentially be employed for discovering new therapeutic targets, contributing to regulatory purposes, refining preclinical drug testing and reducing reliance on animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Bouquerel
- Macromolécules et Microsystèmes en Biologie et Médecine, UMR 168, Institut Curie, Institut Pierre Gilles de Gennes, 6 rue Jean Calvin, 75005, Paris, France
- Stress and Cancer Laboratory, Inserm, U830, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
- Fluigent, 67 avenue de Fontainebleau, 94270, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Anastasiia Dubrova
- Macromolécules et Microsystèmes en Biologie et Médecine, UMR 168, Institut Curie, Institut Pierre Gilles de Gennes, 6 rue Jean Calvin, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Isabella Hofer
- Stress and Cancer Laboratory, Inserm, U830, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Duc T T Phan
- Biomedicine Design, Pfizer Inc., San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Moencopi Bernheim
- Macromolécules et Microsystèmes en Biologie et Médecine, UMR 168, Institut Curie, Institut Pierre Gilles de Gennes, 6 rue Jean Calvin, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Ségolène Ladaigue
- Stress and Cancer Laboratory, Inserm, U830, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Charles Cavaniol
- Macromolécules et Microsystèmes en Biologie et Médecine, UMR 168, Institut Curie, Institut Pierre Gilles de Gennes, 6 rue Jean Calvin, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Danilo Maddalo
- Department of Translational Oncology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Luc Cabel
- Institut Curie, Department of Medical Oncology, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Fatima Mechta-Grigoriou
- Stress and Cancer Laboratory, Inserm, U830, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Claire Wilhelm
- Macromolécules et Microsystèmes en Biologie et Médecine, UMR 168, Institut Curie, Institut Pierre Gilles de Gennes, 6 rue Jean Calvin, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Gérard Zalcman
- Stress and Cancer Laboratory, Inserm, U830, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité, Thoracic Oncology Department, INSERM CIC1425, Bichat Hospital, Cancer Institute AP-HP. Nord, Paris, France.
| | - Maria Carla Parrini
- Stress and Cancer Laboratory, Inserm, U830, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Stéphanie Descroix
- Macromolécules et Microsystèmes en Biologie et Médecine, UMR 168, Institut Curie, Institut Pierre Gilles de Gennes, 6 rue Jean Calvin, 75005, Paris, France
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Erickson P, Jetley G, Amin P, Mejevdiwala A, Patel A, Cheng K, Parekkadan B. A cell culture system to model pharmacokinetics using adjustable-volume perfused mixing chambers. Toxicol In Vitro 2023; 91:105623. [PMID: 37236431 PMCID: PMC10526707 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2023.105623] [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: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of a drug is an essential factor in determining its efficacy, yet it is often neglected during in vitro cell culture experiments. Here, we present a system in which standard well plate cultures may be "plugged in" and perfused with PK drug profiles. Timed drug boluses or infusions are passed through a mixing chamber that simulates the PK volume of distribution specific to the desired drug. The user-specified PK drug profile generated by the mixing chamber passes through the incubated well plate culture, exposing cells to in vivo-like PK drug dynamics. The effluent stream from the culture may then optionally be fractionated and collected by a fraction collector. This low-cost system requires no custom parts and perfuses up to six cultures in parallel. This paper demonstrates a range of PK profiles the system can produce using a tracer dye, describes how to find the correct mixing chamber volumes to mimic PK profiles of drugs of interest, and presents a study exploring the effects of differing PK exposure on a model of lymphoma treatment with chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Erickson
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Gunjan Jetley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Param Amin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Aamena Mejevdiwala
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Ashna Patel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Kelli Cheng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Biju Parekkadan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; Department of Medicine, Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences, New Brunswick, NJ 08852, USA.
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Li C, Holman JB, Shi Z, Qiu B, Ding W. On-chip modeling of tumor evolution: Advances, challenges and opportunities. Mater Today Bio 2023; 21:100724. [PMID: 37483380 PMCID: PMC10359640 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor evolution is the accumulation of various tumor cell behaviors from tumorigenesis to tumor metastasis and is regulated by the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, the mechanism of solid tumor progression has not been completely elucidated, and thus, the development of tumor therapy is still limited. Recently, Tumor chips constructed by culturing tumor cells and stromal cells on microfluidic chips have demonstrated great potential in modeling solid tumors and visualizing tumor cell behaviors to exploit tumor progression. Herein, we review the methods of developing engineered solid tumors on microfluidic chips in terms of tumor types, cell resources and patterns, the extracellular matrix and the components of the TME, and summarize the recent advances of microfluidic chips in demonstrating tumor cell behaviors, including proliferation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, migration, intravasation, extravasation and immune escape of tumor cells. We also outline the combination of tumor organoids and microfluidic chips to elaborate tumor organoid-on-a-chip platforms, as well as the practical limitations that must be overcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengpan Li
- Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Joseph Benjamin Holman
- Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Zhengdi Shi
- Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Bensheng Qiu
- Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Weiping Ding
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230001, China
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Yau JNN, Adriani G. Three-dimensional heterotypic colorectal cancer spheroid models for evaluation of drug response. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1148930. [PMID: 37469395 PMCID: PMC10352797 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1148930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of death worldwide. Improved preclinical tumor models are needed to make treatment screening clinically relevant and address disease mortality. Advancements in 3D cell culture have enabled a greater recapitulation of the architecture and heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment (TME). This has enhanced their pathophysiological relevance and enabled more accurate predictions of tumor progression and drug response in patients. An increasing number of 3D CRC spheroid models include cell populations such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), endothelial cells (ECs), immune cells, and gut bacteria to better mimic the in vivo regulation of signaling pathways. Furthermore, cell heterogeneity within the 3D spheroid models enables the identification of new therapeutic targets to develop alternative treatments and test TME-target therapies. In this mini review, we present the advances in mimicking tumor heterogeneity in 3D CRC spheroid models by incorporating CAFs, ECs, immune cells, and gut bacteria. We introduce how, in these models, the diverse cells influence chemoresistance and tumor progression of the CRC spheroids. We also highlight important parameters evaluated during drug screening in the CRC heterocellular spheroids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Ning Nicolette Yau
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Giulia Adriani
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Wang S, Li B, McLeod D, Li Z. A handheld plug-and-play microfluidic liquid handling automation platform for immunoassays. HARDWAREX 2023; 14:e00420. [PMID: 37153756 PMCID: PMC10160774 DOI: 10.1016/j.ohx.2023.e00420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Lab-on-a-chip technologies and microfluidics have pushed miniaturized liquid handling to unprecedented precision, integration, and automation, which improved the reaction efficiency of immunoassays. However, most microfluidic immunoassay systems still require bulky infrastructures, such as external pressure sources, pneumatic systems, and complex manual tubing and interface connections. Such requirements prevent plug-and-play operation at the point-of-care (POC) settings. Here we present a fully automated handheld general microfluidic liquid handling automation platform with a plug-and-play 'clamshell-style' cartridge socket, a miniature electro-pneumatic controller, and injection-moldable plastic cartridges. The system achieved multi-reagent switching, metering, and timing control on the valveless cartridge using electro-pneumatic pressure control. As a demonstration, a SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody sandwich fluorescent immunoassay (FIA) liquid handling was performed on an acrylic cartridge without human intervention after sample introduction. A fluorescence microscope was used to analyze the result. The assay showed a limit of detection at 31.1 ng/mL, comparable to some previously reported enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). In addition to automated liquid handling on the cartridge, the system can operate as a 6-port pressure source for external microfluidic chips. A rechargeable battery with a 12 V 3000 mAh capacity can power the system for 42 h. The footprint of the system is 16.5 × 10.5 × 7 cm, and the weight is 801 g, including the battery. The system can find many other POC and research applications requiring complex liquid manipulation, such as molecular diagnostics, cell analysis, and on-demand biomanufacturing.
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13
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Higginbottom SL, Tomaskovic-Crook E, Crook JM. Considerations for modelling diffuse high-grade gliomas and developing clinically relevant therapies. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2023; 42:507-541. [PMID: 37004686 PMCID: PMC10348989 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10100-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Abstract
Diffuse high-grade gliomas contain some of the most dangerous human cancers that lack curative treatment options. The recent molecular stratification of gliomas by the World Health Organisation in 2021 is expected to improve outcomes for patients in neuro-oncology through the development of treatments targeted to specific tumour types. Despite this promise, research is hindered by the lack of preclinical modelling platforms capable of recapitulating the heterogeneity and cellular phenotypes of tumours residing in their native human brain microenvironment. The microenvironment provides cues to subsets of glioma cells that influence proliferation, survival, and gene expression, thus altering susceptibility to therapeutic intervention. As such, conventional in vitro cellular models poorly reflect the varied responses to chemotherapy and radiotherapy seen in these diverse cellular states that differ in transcriptional profile and differentiation status. In an effort to improve the relevance of traditional modelling platforms, recent attention has focused on human pluripotent stem cell-based and tissue engineering techniques, such as three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting and microfluidic devices. The proper application of these exciting new technologies with consideration of tumour heterogeneity and microenvironmental interactions holds potential to develop more applicable models and clinically relevant therapies. In doing so, we will have a better chance of translating preclinical research findings to patient populations, thereby addressing the current derisory oncology clinical trial success rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Higginbottom
- Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, AIIM Facility, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, Fairy Meadow, NSW, 2519, Australia
- Arto Hardy Family Biomedical Innovation Hub, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Eva Tomaskovic-Crook
- Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, AIIM Facility, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, Fairy Meadow, NSW, 2519, Australia.
- Arto Hardy Family Biomedical Innovation Hub, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia.
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia.
| | - Jeremy M Crook
- Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, AIIM Facility, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, Fairy Meadow, NSW, 2519, Australia.
- Arto Hardy Family Biomedical Innovation Hub, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia.
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia.
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14
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Tsai HF, Podder S, Chen PY. Microsystem Advances through Integration with Artificial Intelligence. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:826. [PMID: 37421059 DOI: 10.3390/mi14040826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidics is a rapidly growing discipline that involves studying and manipulating fluids at reduced length scale and volume, typically on the scale of micro- or nanoliters. Under the reduced length scale and larger surface-to-volume ratio, advantages of low reagent consumption, faster reaction kinetics, and more compact systems are evident in microfluidics. However, miniaturization of microfluidic chips and systems introduces challenges of stricter tolerances in designing and controlling them for interdisciplinary applications. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have brought innovation to microfluidics from design, simulation, automation, and optimization to bioanalysis and data analytics. In microfluidics, the Navier-Stokes equations, which are partial differential equations describing viscous fluid motion that in complete form are known to not have a general analytical solution, can be simplified and have fair performance through numerical approximation due to low inertia and laminar flow. Approximation using neural networks trained by rules of physical knowledge introduces a new possibility to predict the physicochemical nature. The combination of microfluidics and automation can produce large amounts of data, where features and patterns that are difficult to discern by a human can be extracted by machine learning. Therefore, integration with AI introduces the potential to revolutionize the microfluidic workflow by enabling the precision control and automation of data analysis. Deployment of smart microfluidics may be tremendously beneficial in various applications in the future, including high-throughput drug discovery, rapid point-of-care-testing (POCT), and personalized medicine. In this review, we summarize key microfluidic advances integrated with AI and discuss the outlook and possibilities of combining AI and microfluidics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsieh-Fu Tsai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City 333, Taiwan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Keelung City 204, Taiwan
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City 333, Taiwan
| | - Soumyajit Podder
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City 333, Taiwan
| | - Pin-Yuan Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City 333, Taiwan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Keelung City 204, Taiwan
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15
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Zhu J, Ji L, Chen Y, Li H, Huang M, Dai Z, Wang J, Xiang D, Fu G, Lei Z, Chu X. Organoids and organs-on-chips: insights into predicting the efficacy of systemic treatment in colorectal cancer. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:72. [PMID: 36813783 PMCID: PMC9947255 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01354-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer heterogeneity has posed a great challenge to traditional cancer treatment, with the reappearance of cancer heterogeneity of inter and intra patients being especially critical. Based on this, personalized therapy has emerged as significant research focus in recent and even future years. Cancer-related therapeutic models are developing, including cell lines, patient-derived xenografts, organoids, etc. Organoids are three-dimensional in vitro models emerged in the past dozen years and are able to reproduce the cellular and molecular composition of the original tumor. These advantages demonstrate the great potential for patient-derived organoids to develop personalized anticancer therapies, including preclinical drug screening and the prediction of patient treatment response. The impact of microenvironment on cancer treatment cannot be underestimated, and the remodeling of microenvironment also allows organoids to interact with other technologies, among which organs-on-chips is a representative one. This review highlights the use of organoids and organs-on-chips as complementary reference tools in treating colorectal cancer from the perspective of clinical efficacy predictability. We also discuss the limitations of both techniques and how they complement each other well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialong Zhu
- grid.284723.80000 0000 8877 7471Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Nanjing, 210000 China
| | - Linlin Ji
- grid.41156.370000 0001 2314 964XDepartment of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210000 China
| | - Yitian Chen
- grid.284723.80000 0000 8877 7471Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Nanjing, 210000 China ,grid.41156.370000 0001 2314 964XDepartment of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210000 China ,grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210000 China ,grid.410745.30000 0004 1765 1045Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210000 China
| | - Huiyu Li
- grid.41156.370000 0001 2314 964XDepartment of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210000 China
| | - Mengxi Huang
- grid.41156.370000 0001 2314 964XDepartment of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210000 China
| | - Zhe Dai
- grid.41156.370000 0001 2314 964XDepartment of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210000 China
| | - Jing Wang
- grid.41156.370000 0001 2314 964XDepartment of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210000 China
| | - Dan Xiang
- grid.41156.370000 0001 2314 964XDepartment of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210000 China
| | - Gongbo Fu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Nanjing, 210000, China. .,Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210000, China. .,Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210000, China. .,Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210000, China.
| | - Zengjie Lei
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Nanjing, 210000, China. .,Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210000, China. .,Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210000, China. .,Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210000, China.
| | - Xiaoyuan Chu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Nanjing, 210000, China. .,Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210000, China. .,Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210000, China. .,Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210000, China.
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16
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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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17
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Li B, Ma X, Cheng J, Tian T, Guo J, Wang Y, Pang L. Droplets microfluidics platform-A tool for single cell research. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1121870. [PMID: 37152651 PMCID: PMC10154550 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1121870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cells are the most basic structural and functional units of living organisms. Studies of cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and cell-cell interactions can help scientists understand the mysteries of living systems. However, there is considerable heterogeneity among cells. Great differences between individuals can be found even within the same cell cluster. Cell heterogeneity can only be clearly expressed and distinguished at the level of single cells. The development of droplet microfluidics technology opens up a new chapter for single-cell analysis. Microfluidic chips can produce many nanoscale monodisperse droplets, which can be used as small isolated micro-laboratories for various high-throughput, precise single-cell analyses. Moreover, gel droplets with good biocompatibility can be used in single-cell cultures and coupled with biomolecules for various downstream analyses of cellular metabolites. The droplets are also maneuverable; through physical and chemical forces, droplets can be divided, fused, and sorted to realize single-cell screening and other related studies. This review describes the channel design, droplet generation, and control technology of droplet microfluidics and gives a detailed overview of the application of droplet microfluidics in single-cell culture, single-cell screening, single-cell detection, and other aspects. Moreover, we provide a recent review of the application of droplet microfluidics in tumor single-cell immunoassays, describe in detail the advantages of microfluidics in tumor research, and predict the development of droplet microfluidics at the single-cell level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bixuan Li
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganism and Tumor Immunity, Xi’an, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Xi Ma
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganism and Tumor Immunity, Xi’an, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Jianghong Cheng
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganism and Tumor Immunity, Xi’an, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Tian Tian
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganism and Tumor Immunity, Xi’an, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Jiao Guo
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganism and Tumor Immunity, Xi’an, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganism and Tumor Immunity, Xi’an, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Yang Wang,
| | - Long Pang
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganism and Tumor Immunity, Xi’an, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
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18
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Valle NME, Nucci MP, Alves AH, Rodrigues LD, Mamani JB, Oliveira FA, Lopes CS, Lopes AT, Carreño MNP, Gamarra LF. Advances in Concentration Gradient Generation Approaches in a Microfluidic Device for Toxicity Analysis. Cells 2022; 11:cells11193101. [PMID: 36231063 PMCID: PMC9563958 DOI: 10.3390/cells11193101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
This systematic review aimed to analyze the development and functionality of microfluidic concentration gradient generators (CGGs) for toxicological evaluation of different biological organisms. We searched articles using the keywords: concentration gradient generator, toxicity, and microfluidic device. Only 33 of the 352 articles found were included and examined regarding the fabrication of the microdevices, the characteristics of the CGG, the biological model, and the desired results. The main fabrication method was soft lithography, using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) material (91%) and SU-8 as the mold (58.3%). New technologies were applied to minimize shear and bubble problems, reduce costs, and accelerate prototyping. The Christmas tree CGG design and its variations were the most reported in the studies, as well as the convective method of generation (61%). Biological models included bacteria and nematodes for antibiotic screening, microalgae for pollutant toxicity, tumor and normal cells for, primarily, chemotherapy screening, and Zebrafish embryos for drug and metal developmental toxicity. The toxic effects of each concentration generated were evaluated mostly with imaging and microscopy techniques. This study showed an advantage of CGGs over other techniques and their applicability for several biological models. Even with soft lithography, PDMS, and Christmas tree being more popular in their respective categories, current studies aim to apply new technologies and intricate architectures to improve testing effectiveness and reduce common microfluidics problems, allowing for high applicability of toxicity tests in different medical and environmental models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M. E. Valle
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo 05652-000, Brazil
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, São Paulo 01303-050, Brazil
| | - Mariana P. Nucci
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo 05652-000, Brazil
- LIM44—Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Caique S. Lopes
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, São Paulo 01303-050, Brazil
| | - Alexandre T. Lopes
- Departamento de Engenharia de Sistema Eletrônicos, Escola Politécnica, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-010, Brazil
| | - Marcelo N. P. Carreño
- Departamento de Engenharia de Sistema Eletrônicos, Escola Politécnica, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-010, Brazil
| | - Lionel F. Gamarra
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo 05652-000, Brazil
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, São Paulo 01303-050, Brazil
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-11-2151-0243
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19
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Osouli-Bostanabad K, Puliga S, Serrano DR, Bucchi A, Halbert G, Lalatsa A. Microfluidic Manufacture of Lipid-Based Nanomedicines. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14091940. [PMID: 36145688 PMCID: PMC9506151 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14091940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanoparticulate technologies have revolutionized drug delivery allowing for passive and active targeting, altered biodistribution, controlled drug release (temporospatial or triggered), enhanced stability, improved solubilization capacity, and a reduction in dose and adverse effects. However, their manufacture remains immature, and challenges exist on an industrial scale due to high batch-to-batch variability hindering their clinical translation. Lipid-based nanomedicines remain the most widely approved nanomedicines, and their current manufacturing methods remain discontinuous and face several problems such as high batch-to-batch variability affecting the critical quality attributes (CQAs) of the product, laborious multistep processes, need for an expert workforce, and not being easily amenable to industrial scale-up involving typically a complex process control. Several techniques have emerged in recent years for nanomedicine manufacture, but a paradigm shift occurred when microfluidic strategies able to mix fluids in channels with dimensions of tens of micrometers and small volumes of liquid reagents in a highly controlled manner to form nanoparticles with tunable and reproducible structure were employed. In this review, we summarize the recent advancements in the manufacturing of lipid-based nanomedicines using microfluidics with particular emphasis on the parameters that govern the control of CQAs of final nanomedicines. The impact of microfluidic environments on formation dynamics of nanomaterials, and the application of microdevices as platforms for nanomaterial screening are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karim Osouli-Bostanabad
- Biomaterials, Bio-Engineering and Nanomedicine (BioN) Lab, Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, White Swan Road, Portsmouth PO1 2DT, UK
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Robertson Wing, University of Strathclyde, 161, Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
| | - Sara Puliga
- Biomaterials, Bio-Engineering and Nanomedicine (BioN) Lab, Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, White Swan Road, Portsmouth PO1 2DT, UK
| | - Dolores R. Serrano
- Pharmaceutics and Food Technology Department, School of Pharmacy, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Plaza Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto Universitario de Farmacia Industrial, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (D.R.S.); (A.L.); Tel.: +44-141-548-2675 (A.L.)
| | - Andrea Bucchi
- School of Mechanical and Design Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 3DJ, UK
| | - Gavin Halbert
- CRUK Formulation Unit, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Robertson Wing, University of Strathclyde, 161, Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
| | - Aikaterini Lalatsa
- Biomaterials, Bio-Engineering and Nanomedicine (BioN) Lab, Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, White Swan Road, Portsmouth PO1 2DT, UK
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Robertson Wing, University of Strathclyde, 161, Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
- CRUK Formulation Unit, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Robertson Wing, University of Strathclyde, 161, Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
- Correspondence: (D.R.S.); (A.L.); Tel.: +44-141-548-2675 (A.L.)
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20
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Ro J, Kim J, Cho YK. Recent advances in spheroid-based microfluidic models to mimic the tumour microenvironment. Analyst 2022; 147:2023-2034. [PMID: 35485712 DOI: 10.1039/d2an00172a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) multicellular spheroid models can recapitulate the human tumour microenvironment with more accuracy than conventional cell culture models, as they include complex architectural structures and dynamic cellular interactions. Among the diverse platforms for spheroid formation, microfluidic platforms have been extensively applied to study spheroids because they can mimic the in vivo microenvironment. This review provides an overview of the advantages of 3D spheroid cultures with a summary of the recent applications for tumour microenvironment-focused cellular interactions, as well as the studies on spheroids and external stimuli. These 3D tumour spheroid-based microfluidic devices will provide a platform for a better understanding of cellular and external interactions, as well as the discovery of cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jooyoung Ro
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, Korea. .,Center for Soft and Living Matter, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Ulsan, Korea
| | - Junyoung Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, Korea.
| | - Yoon-Kyoung Cho
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, Korea. .,Center for Soft and Living Matter, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Ulsan, Korea
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21
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The Effect of Dynamic, In Vivo-like Oxaliplatin on HCT116 Spheroids in a Cancer-on-Chip Model Is Representative of the Response in Xenografts. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:mi13050739. [PMID: 35630206 PMCID: PMC9146796 DOI: 10.3390/mi13050739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The cancer xenograft model in which human cancer cells are implanted in a mouse is one of the most used preclinical models to test the efficacy of novel cancer drugs. However, the model is imperfect; animal models are ethically burdened, and the imperfect efficacy predictions contribute to high clinical attrition of novel drugs. If microfluidic cancer-on-chip models could recapitulate key elements of the xenograft model, then these models could substitute the xenograft model and subsequently surpass the xenograft model by reducing variation, increasing sensitivity and scale, and adding human factors. Here, we exposed HCT116 colorectal cancer spheroids to dynamic, in vivo-like, concentrations of oxaliplatin, including a 5 day drug-free period, on-chip. Growth inhibition on-chip was comparable to existing xenograft studies. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry showed a similar response in proliferation and apoptosis markers. While small volume changes in xenografts are hard to detect, in the chip-system, we could observe a temporary growth delay. Lastly, histopathology and a pharmacodynamic model showed that the cancer spheroid-on-chip was representative of the proliferating outer part of a HCT116 xenograft, thereby capturing the major driver of the drug response of the xenograft. Hence, the cancer-on-chip model recapitulated the response of HCT116 xenografts to oxaliplatin and provided additional drug efficacy information.
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nurP28, a New-to-Nature Zein-Derived Peptide, Enhances the Therapeutic Effect of Docetaxel in Breast Cancer Monolayers and Spheroids. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27092824. [PMID: 35566175 PMCID: PMC9105272 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27092824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The development of novel cancer therapeutic strategies has garnered increasing interest in cancer research. Among the therapeutic choices, chemosensitizers have shown exciting prospects. Peptides are an attractive alternative among the molecules that may be used as chemosensitizers. We rationally designed a new-to-nature peptide, nurP28, derived from the 22-kDa α-zein protein sequence (entry Q00919_MAIZE). The resultant sequence of the nurP28 peptide after the addition of arginine residues was LALLALLRLRRRATTAFIIP, and we added acetyl and amide groups at the N- and C-terminus, respectively, for capping. We evaluated the cytotoxicity of the nurP28 peptide alone and in combination with docetaxel in fibroblast monolayers and breast cancer monolayers and spheroids. Our results indicated that nurP28 is not cytotoxic to human fibroblasts or cancer cells. Nevertheless, when combined with 1 µM docetaxel, 3 ng/mL nurP28 induced equivalent (in MCF7 monolayers) and higher (in MCF7 spheroids) cytotoxic effects than 10-fold higher doses of docetaxel alone. These findings suggest that nurP28 may act as a chemosensitizer in breast cancer treatment. This study describes the enhancing “anti-cancer” effects of nurP28 in breast cancer 2D and 3D cultures treated with docetaxel. Further studies should explore the mechanisms underlying these effects and assess the clinical potential of our findings using animal models.
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The Advances in Glioblastoma On-a-Chip for Therapy Approaches. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14040869. [PMID: 35205617 PMCID: PMC8870462 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14040869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This systematic review showed different therapeutic approaches to glioblastoma on-a-chip with varying levels of complexity, answering, from the simplest question to the most sophisticated questions, in a biological system integrated in an efficient way. With advances in manufacturing protocols, soft lithography in PDMS material was the most used in the studies, applying different strategy geometrics in device construction. The microenvironment showed the relevant elaborations in co-culture between mainly human tumor cells and support cells involved in the collagen type I matrix; remaining an adequate way to assess the therapeutic approach. The most complex devices showed efficient intersection between different systems, allowing in vitro studies with major human genetic similarity, reproducibility, and low cost, on a highly customizable platform. Abstract This systematic review aimed to verify the use of microfluidic devices in the process of implementing and evaluating the effectiveness of therapeutic approaches in glioblastoma on-a-chip, providing a broad view of advances to date in the use of this technology and their perspectives. We searched studies with the variations of the keywords “Glioblastoma”, “microfluidic devices”, “organ-on-a-chip” and “therapy” of the last ten years in PubMed and Scopus databases. Of 446 articles identified, only 22 articles were selected for analysis according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The microfluidic devices were mainly produced by soft lithography technology, using the PDMS material (72%). In the microenvironment, the main extracellular matrix used was collagen type I. Most studies used U87-MG glioblastoma cells from humans and 31.8% were co-cultivated with HUVEC, hCMEC/D3, and astrocytes. Chemotherapy was the majority of therapeutic approaches, assessing mainly the cellular viability and proliferation. Furthermore, some alternative therapies were reported in a few studies (22.6%). This study identified a diversity of glioblastoma on-a-chip to assess therapeutic approaches, often using intermediate levels of complexity. The most advanced level implemented the intersection between different biological systems (liver–brain or intestine–liver–brain), BBB model, allowing in vitro studies with greater human genetic similarity, reproducibility, and low cost, in a highly customizable platform.
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Doffe F, Fuoco L, Michels J, Jernström S, Tomasi R, Savagner P. Evaluating immune response in vitro in a relevant microenvironment: a high-throughput microfluidic model for clinical screening. EXPLORATION OF TARGETED ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY 2022; 3:853-865. [PMID: 36654822 PMCID: PMC9834268 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2022.00117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim Functional screening of new pharmaceutical compounds requires clinically relevant models to monitor essential cellular and immune responses during cancer progression, with or without treatment. Beyond survival, the emergence of resistant tumor cell clones should also be considered, including specific properties related to plasticity, such as invasiveness, stemness, escape from programmed cell death, and immune response. Numerous pathways are involved in these processes. Defining the relevant ones in the context of a specific tumor type will be key to designing an appropriate combination of inhibitors. However, the diversity and potential redundancy of these pathways remain a challenge for therapy. Methods A new microfluidic device developed by Okomera was dedicated to the screening of drug treatment for breast cancer. This microchip includes 150 droplet-trapping microwells, offering multi-chip settings and multiple treatment choices. Results After validating the system with established cell lines and a panel of drugs used clinically at Gustave Roussy, preclinical experiments were initiated including patient-derived xenograft (PDX) and primary tumor cells-derived tumoroids with the collaboration of Gustave Roussy clinicians. Tumor-isolated lymphocytes were also added to the tumoroids, using secondary droplets in proof-of-concept experiments. Conclusions These results show the relevance of the methodology for screening large numbers of drugs, a wide range of doses, and multiple drug combinations. This methodology will be used for two purposes: 1) new drug screening from the compound library, using the high throughput potential of the chip; and 2) pre-clinical assay for a two-weeks response for personalized medicine, allowing evaluation of drug combinations to flag an optimized treatment with potential clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flora Doffe
- INSERM U1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Faculty of Medicine, University Paris-Saclay, 94805 Villejuif, France
| | - Layla Fuoco
- Okomera, iPEPS, Pitié-Salpêtrière Medical center, 47 Hôpital Blvd, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Judith Michels
- Oncological Medecine Department, Gustave Roussy, 94805 Villejuif, France
| | - Sandra Jernström
- Okomera, iPEPS, Pitié-Salpêtrière Medical center, 47 Hôpital Blvd, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Raphael Tomasi
- Okomera, iPEPS, Pitié-Salpêtrière Medical center, 47 Hôpital Blvd, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Pierre Savagner
- INSERM U1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Faculty of Medicine, University Paris-Saclay, 94805 Villejuif, France,Correspondence: Pierre Savagner, INSERM U1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Faculty of Medicine, University Paris-Saclay, 94805 Villejuif, France.
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Wu Y, Zhou Y, Qin X, Liu Y. From cell spheroids to vascularized cancer organoids: Microfluidic tumor-on-a-chip models for preclinical drug evaluations. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2021; 15:061503. [PMID: 34804315 PMCID: PMC8589468 DOI: 10.1063/5.0062697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Chemotherapy is one of the most effective cancer treatments. Starting from the discovery of new molecular entities, it usually takes about 10 years and 2 billion U.S. dollars to bring an effective anti-cancer drug from the benchtop to patients. Due to the physiological differences between animal models and humans, more than 90% of drug candidates failed in phase I clinical trials. Thus, a more efficient drug screening system to identify feasible compounds and pre-exclude less promising drug candidates is strongly desired. For their capability to accurately construct in vitro tumor models derived from human cells to reproduce pathological and physiological processes, microfluidic tumor chips are reliable platforms for preclinical drug screening, personalized medicine, and fundamental oncology research. This review summarizes the recent progress of the microfluidic tumor chip and highlights tumor vascularization strategies. In addition, promising imaging modalities for enhancing data acquisition and machine learning-based image analysis methods to accurately quantify the dynamics of tumor spheroids are introduced. It is believed that the microfluidic tumor chip will serve as a high-throughput, biomimetic, and multi-sensor integrated system for efficient preclinical drug evaluation in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wu
- Department of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, USA
| | - Yuyuan Zhou
- Department of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, USA
| | - Xiaochen Qin
- Department of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, USA
| | - Yaling Liu
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:
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